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The jaguar is the third largest feline in the world, only surpassed by the tiger and the lion, and its jaw is the most powerful of all the large cats.
In the Americas, it is the biggest feline. Unfortunately, jaguar populations are decreasing drastically due to human activities.
Its scientific name is Panthera onca and throughout the continent it is commonly known as: ocelotl in Nahuatl, balam in Mayan, nawel in Mapuche, uturunku in Quechua, namu in Bribri and yaguara in Guaraní.
It is an umbrella species. If we protect the jaguar, we can protect many other species.
It is nocturnal, solitary and territorial. It purrs just like any other cat.
Each one of its spots is unique, just like our fingerprints.
It likes to prowl through big extensions of land.
It is strong and stocky, with short and thick legs. Its role as a predator is fundamental in the balance of food chains.
The jaguar’s kingdom reaches even the water, since it likes to swim and dive.
These services include ensuring the quality and quantity of water supply, generation of oxygen, crop pollination, climate change mitigation and disaster risk reduction.
In addition, jaguar habitats provide means of sustainable livelihoods for the communities that coexist with it.
BY SAVING THE JAGUAR AND ITS HABITATS, WE WILL ALSO SUPPORT THE ACHIEVEMENT OF AT LEAST 11 OF THE 17 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
THIS GENERATES SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS.
For centuries, the jaguar has been a powerful cultural symbol in the Americas.
WE ARE ALL JAGUAR PEOPLE: DIVERSE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE AMERICAS THAT INHABIT MOUNTAINS, JUNGLES, FORESTS AND DESERTS BASED THEIR MYTHS OF ORIGIN ON THE JAGUAR. THEY ADMIRED THE FELINE’S MAJESTIC AIR AND PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES.
CULTURES IN THE AMERICAS CONSIDER THE JAGUAR A SYMBOL OF POWER: IT REPRESENTS THE SUN, THE FERTILIZING ENERGY OF NATURE AND THE JUNGLE’S PROTECTOR; IT HAS THE COLOR OF FIRE, A ROAR AS POWERFUL AS THUNDER AND SPOTS LIKE THE MOON.
ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS ETCHED ITS EXISTENCE INTO THEIR MINDS AND WORLDVIEWS: ITS PRESENCE IN CODICES, CRAFTS, SCULPTURES, PAINTINGS AND CERAMICS CONFIRMS THE RELEVANCE OF THE FELINE THROUGHOUT THE CONTINENT.
