
Quick Facts
Facts sourced from Wikidata (CC0).
Best Months to Spot
Most sightings recorded in Jan, Nov, Dec. Data from GBIF - a global database of verified wildlife observations by researchers and citizen scientists.
Conservation Status
Conservation hubClose to qualifying as threatened in the near future.
Jaguars are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation due to deforestation for agriculture and cattle ranching, as well as illegal hunting. Conservation efforts focus on protecting large, connected forest areas and reducing human-wildlife conflict. Responsible safari tourism helps by providing economic incentives for local communities to protect jaguar habitats and by raising awareness about the importance of conservation.
The jaguar is a large cat species and the only living member of the genus Panthera that is native to the Americas. Its distinctively marked coat features pale yellow to tan colored fur covered by spots that transition to rosettes on the sides, although a melanistic black coat appears in some individuals. With a body length of up to 1.85 m and a weight of up to 158 kg (348 lb), it is the biggest cat species in the Americas and the third largest in the world. The jaguar's powerful bite allows it to pierce the carapaces of turtles and tortoises, and to employ an unusual killing method: it bites directly through the skull of mammalian prey between the ears to deliver a fatal blow to the brain.
Description adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to Find
Top parks for Jaguar. Sightings recorded in 55 safari areas total.
Best Safari Destinations
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