People often ask us if we’re frightened of being eaten by jaguars. I generally tell that it’d be a dream come true if I saw one in the wild. Jaguars, like other cats, are very elusive and timid animals. I’m sure that many jaguars have seen the WCO team paddling by.
Jaguars have adapted well to the wet environment of the Amazon. They are very good swimmers, and unlike other cats, they actually seek out water for bathing and swimming. However, they spend most of their time on the forest floor and in small trees.
Much of the jaguar’s prey is made up of aquatic mammals, turtles, and even fish. However, the jaguar is hardly an animal that only hunts in the water. In fact, jaguars have been known to leap at their from the treetops. Imagine if you’re a deer or tapir and a 150-250 lb. cat leaps down on top of you. Try getting away from that!
The jaguar’s fur keeps it camoflagued in the jungle. Jaguars are also very strong, giving it the strength to move slowly and silently through the forest. But when a jaguar is ready to hunt, it can move extremely fast.
At one time, jaguars were some of the America’s top predators. They could be found all over South and Central America. However, they are extremely endangered. Habitat loss and over-hunting have caused the jaguar to move to only the most remote section of the Amazon basin.
For further exploration, check out these web sites.
National Geographic's Animal Facts and Photos
The Belize Zoo's Jaguar Page
The Houston Zoo's Jaguar Page
