Disclaimer: The following piece contains a gruesome depiction of what Brazil’s jaguar population is facing today.
Photo: Wikipedia
Jaguars (Panthera onca) are the largest carnivores of South and Central America. For a species that is already extinct in North America (some people saw few animals around the border, but they are suspected to have come from Mexico), they are threatened for many different reasons. One of those reasons, like many animals, is the presence of poachers. In a small town of Brazil (Curionopolis), the Brazilian police found the heads of five slaughtered Jaguars this week. Police arrested three people involved in the case. Two are already free and one is still in custody.
Local police are investigating the case, but in a country that has few laws to protect their wildlife, a police force that is paid low wages and a lot of corruption, it’s fair to assume this case won’t end with a positive result for those hoping to protect these animals. Most importantly, this is an opportunity to learn what reason these animals are killed for. Are their heads or coats landing in Asia’s black market? In 2014 Al Jazeera discussed the threat drug trafficking poses to these animals when a recognized jaguar was found floating in the Cuiabá River. In that case it was believed traffickers using the river simply killed the animals as a way to keep tourists and law enforcement away from the isolated rivers.
Brazilian police found the heads of five dead Jaguars this week. They arrested three people they believe are involved in the case, keeping just one in custody.
This species isn’t something you’ll find in Disney movies. It’s not an animal that’s adored worldwide, but it is the most important feline in the Americas. The clock is ticking fast for these Jaguars as they move toward extinction. As citizens of the world we can help through non profit organizations around South and Central America, like Instituto Pro-Carnivoros in Brazil.
