Jaguar

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Jaguar

Scientific Name: Panthera onca

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Jaguars are the third-largest big cat in the world, after tigers and lions, but they are the largest in the Americas. Known for their incredible strength, jaguars have one of the most powerful bites in the animal kingdom, strong enough to pierce the skulls or shells of prey like caimans and turtles.
  • Unlike many cats, jaguars love water and are excellent swimmers. In fact, rivers and wetlands are often the perfect hunting grounds for these stealthy predators. Their stunning coat, covered in rosettes with central black spots, helps them blend seamlessly into the dappled light of the rainforest. Interestingly, some jaguars are born melanistic, appearing almost entirely black. These so-called “black panthers” still have their rosette patterns, but they are hidden beneath the dark pigmentation. This rare trait gives them extra camouflage in dense forests.

EVERY SPECIES COUNT

Today, jaguars face increasing threats from habitat loss, deforestation, and poaching, pushing them closer to extinction. As apex predators, their survival is vital for the balance of entire ecosystems. Protecting jaguars means protecting the rich biodiversity of rainforests and wetlands that countless other species, and even humans, depend on. Conservation programs, wildlife corridors, and stronger laws against illegal hunting are essential steps to ensure that these magnificent cats, whether golden or melanistic, continue to roam the wild for generations to come.

 

Curious to learn more?
Reach out to our Education Team at education@emiratespark.ae. We’re happy to share more wild facts!

MY CONSERVATION STATUS
Near Threatened 80%

HOW LONG DO I LIVE?

12 – 15 years (in natural range)

20 – 25 years (with care)

WHERE DO I LIVE?

Tropical rainforest in the Amazon Basin, but they also inhabit wetlands, savannas, and scrublands across Central and South America.

WHAT KIND OF EATER AM I?

Carnivore

WHAT’S IN MY MENU?

I have a varied diet that includes over 85 species of animals. I can hunt deer, capybaras, peccaries, tapirs, monkeys, turtles, birds, and even caimans.

WEIGHT

56 – 72 KG

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