Past, present and future of the jaguar: review of threats, solutions, and research and conservation needs

Abstract

Jaguars Panthera onca in South America are now found in only about half of thearea they occupied in the early 20th century, and the rate of their decline is still high.The two most important drivers of the current decline are: a) deforestation and otherhabitat transformation and fragmentation, and b) killing jaguars related to conflictswith cattle ranching. Other important threats include illegal hunting and trade injaguar body parts, increasing road density, and the rapid expansion of uncontrolledmining. Among the most important conservation achievements obtained so far arelegal regulations that have eliminated legal jaguar hunting and trade in their parts inall countries, and the establishment of a network of protected areas across the jaguarrange. The most urgent problems to solve are effective solutions to stop deforestationand stop the killing of jaguars in areas of conflict with cattle ranching. More protectedareas are needed; however, it is also necessary to improve the functioning ofprotected areas. Ecological corridors have to be properly identified and implemented.Other important needs include enforcement of laws to eliminate the illegal jaguarhunting and trade, implementation of a system of environmental education, and thedevelopment of ecotourism. A coherent and effective common system of natureprotection across South America would help to achieve the conservation goals. Anumber of international conventions and agreements support the conservation ofjaguars, and in the recent years, significant new international initiatives have arisen toelevate the profile of jaguar conservation. We present and discuss needs for research,conservation solutions, and actions to stop the decline of South America’s jaguars.