Jaguars in Mexico

Jaguars in Mexico

There are an estimated of 4,800 Jaguars in Mexico.  The Jaguar is the largest feline in the Americas and the third in the world after the Lion and the Tiger.  It can weigh more than 45 kilos but less than 130 kilos.  Its length is 1.70 to 2.40 meters, measured from the head to the tail.  Its body is robust and it has a large head. Females are 20% smaller than the males. The color of the pelage varies from pale yellow to reddish brown but it could be also complete black, but it always has black spots all over his body.

The Jaguars are very strong and are very agile. Just imagine that it can climb and jump between trees and also swim great distances.

The Jaguar is an animal that lives in habitats with more than 1,000 meters above the sea level. It lives in southern Mexico rainforest and in the western of Sierra Madre. It requires huge extensions of land to live, however with the continuous growing of the agricultural industry it faces severe conflicts with humans who are hunting them and destroying its habitat.

Humans must understand that the presence of jaguars ensures that this kind of ecosystems function because Jaguars control the population of herbivores to maintain the ecosystem in good health.

The species is recognized as an ecological key species and has great cultural importance. Did you know that the Aztecs used the costume on the battlefield? Their jaguar costume was also thought to give them the powers of an animal. Since they were considered the bravest of warriors, they were deployed at the battlefront during military campaigns.

In Mexico, there is a conservation program launched in 2005 and its now working because the jaguar’s population are starting to grow.

I encourage you to protect these animals so we can see them in the future when we visit their habitats.

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