| National Jaguar Census Aims to Protect Its Stealthy Inhabitants Latin American Post | |
| go to original February 24, 2024 |
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The Mexican government will shortly begin a six-month survey of wild jaguar populations, to determine the number that remain in the wild. (Kim Schandorff/BBC)
Mexico announced its third national species census in an ambitious effort to safeguard the elusive jaguar. It is set to reveal preliminary results in August, marking a critical step in conservation within Latin America’s diverse ecosystems.
Preserving Mexico’s Jaguars: A Pivotal National Census
In a move that underscores the growing urgency to preserve one of Latin America’s most iconic and threatened species, Mexico has embarked on its third national jaguar census, a pivotal project aimed at assessing the current population and health of these majestic creatures within its borders. Spearheaded by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp), in collaboration with the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the National Alliance for Jaguar Conservation (ANCJ), this extensive survey is a testament to Mexico’s commitment to biodiversity and environmental stewardship.
Scheduled to take place across 19 Natural Protected Areas (NPAs) and an additional ten sites from March to June, with preliminary results expected in August, the census represents a monumental effort to quantify the impact of conservation measures and strengthen public policies aimed at mitigating threats to the jaguar population. The initiative is a matter of environmental concern and a cultural imperative, reflecting the jaguar’s significant role in Mexico’s cultural tapestry and natural heritage.
The jaguar, the largest feline in the Americas and the third-largest worldwide is a symbol of might, grandeur, and power, immortalized in the temples and cities of ancient civilizations such as Calakmul, Balam Kú, Monte Albán, and Cacaxtla. With a habitat range that includes tropical forests, mangroves, montane mesophyll forests, thorny forests, and pine-oak woods, the jaguar’s survival is intricately linked to conserving vast and interconnected territories.
Population Trends and Conservation Challenges
From the 4,000 individuals estimated to roam Mexico in 2010, the population saw a hopeful increase to approximately 4,800 by 2018, a testament to ongoing conservation efforts. Yet, maintaining these numbers requires extensive habitat preservation, with a single jaguar needing between 2,500 to 10,000 hectares of land and a network of connected territories to thrive.
Mexico’s approach to jaguar conservation, protecting the species and its habitat within 65 Natural Protected Areas and over 300 Voluntary Land Conservation Areas (ADVC), safeguarding more than 9 million hectares of the jaguar’s critical biological corridor, offers a blueprint for conservation efforts across Latin America. These efforts are crucial in a region where deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and human-wildlife conflict pose significant threats to wildlife.
Read the rest at Latin American Post
Related: How Many Wild Jaguars Are There in Mexico? (Mexico News Daily)
Related: Jaguar Guide: How to Identify, Where to See and Conservation (BBC Wildlife Magazine)
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