A jaguar cub (Panthera onca) has been rescued in the city of Concepción by volunteer firefighters, triggering a rapid response from Paraguay’s Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development (Mades). Concepción is a city in northern Paraguay, and capital of the Concepción Department. It is situated next to the Paraguay River.
Mades technicians immediately transported the cub for assessment and to begin preparations for its return to the wild. The animal was found wearing a collar. This heightened suspicions that poachers intentionally separated the young animal from its mother to sell it in the illegal wildlife trade.
Jaguars in Paraguay
Paraguay’s Jaguars are iconic big cats, primarily inhabiting the dense forests, wetlands, and grasslands of the Gran Chaco and Pantanal regions. As apex predators, they play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance, preying on capybaras, peccaries, and caimans. Their population has declined due to habitat loss, deforestation, and human-wildlife conflict, with estimates suggesting fewer than 1,000 remain in the country.
Conservation efforts, like those by WWF-Paraguay, focus on protecting habitats and mitigating conflicts with ranchers. Jaguars hold cultural significance, symbolising strength in indigenous Guarani mythology. Their elusive nature makes sightings rare, underscoring the urgency of preservation efforts.
Wildlife trafficking
Evidence in Concepción indicates poachers likely killed the jaguar cub’s mother to capture the cub. Wildlife officials believe poachers aimed to sell the cub as a pet, an illegal practice that severely threatens this protected species. Specialists from Mades state that hunters likely killed the mother to take the cub, and consequently, authorities must treat these cases as wildlife trafficking.
Jaguar conservation efforts
The jaguar is an emblematic species in Paraguay, currently endangered. As a result, its survival depends on joint efforts in collaboration with institutions, citizens, and local communities. Mades has confirmed that they will continue to monitor the case and reaffirmed their dedication to protecting Paraguay’s biodiversity.
