History of Jaguar in Timeline

The jaguar is a large cat species native to the Americas and the biggest cat in the Americas. It is characterized by its spotted yellow to tan coat, though some individuals exhibit melanism. Notably, the jaguar possesses a powerful bite, enabling it to prey on turtles and tortoises, and it employs a unique killing technique by biting through the skull of its mammalian prey to deliver a fatal blow to the brain.

1939: Reginald Innes Pocock's Subspecies Recognition

In 1939, Reginald Innes Pocock recognized eight jaguar subspecies based on the geographic origins and skull morphology of jaguar specimens, though he doubted the validity of several subspecies due to insufficient zoological specimens.

1940: Jaguar Extirpation in Venezuela

Since 1940, the jaguar was extirpated in about 26% of its range in Venezuela, mostly in dry savannas and unproductive scrubland in the northeastern region of Anzoátegui.

1948: Last Confirmed Jaguar Shot in Texas

In 1948, the last confirmed jaguar in Texas was shot 4.8 km (3 miles) southeast of Kingsville, Texas.

1963: Female Jaguar Shot in Arizona

In 1963, a female jaguar was shot in the White Mountains of Arizona.

1969: Arizona Outlaws Jaguar Hunting

In 1969, Arizona outlawed jaguar hunting, but by then no females remained, and few males were sighted over the next 25 years.

1973: Enactment of CITES

The trade in jaguar skins decreased since 1973 when the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) was enacted.

1977: Jaguar Social Behavior Observed

In 1977, in the Paraguay River valley, groups of jaguars consisting of a male, female and cubs, and two females with two males, were sighted several times in a study area. A radio-collared female's home range overlapped with another female, and the male's range overlapped with several females.

1986: Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary Established

In 1986, the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary was established in Belize as the world's first protected area for jaguar conservation.

1995: Jaguars Killed in Alto Paraná Atlantic Forests

Between 1995 and 2008, at least 117 jaguars were killed in Iguaçu National Park and the adjacent Misiones Province in the Alto Paraná Atlantic forests.

1996: Jaguar Sighting in Peloncillo Mountains

In 1996, a rancher and hunting guide from Douglas, Arizona, encountered a jaguar in the Peloncillo Mountains and began jaguar research, placing trail cameras that recorded four more jaguars.

1998: Jaguars Killed in Retaliation in Panama

Between 1998 and 2014, 220 of 230 jaguars were killed in Panama in retaliation for predation on livestock.

1999: Jaguar Conservation Units Determined

In 1999, field scientists from 18 jaguar range countries determined the most important areas for long-term jaguar conservation, called Jaguar Conservation Units (JCUs), based on jaguar population status, prey base stability, and habitat quality.

1999: Jaguar's Historic Range Estimated

In 1999, the jaguar's historic range at the turn of the 20th century was estimated at 19,000,000 km², stretching from the southern United States through Central America to southern Argentina.

2000: Forest Loss in Jaguar Range

Between 2000 and 2012, forest loss in the jaguar range amounted to 83,759 km², with fragmentation increasing in particular in corridors between Jaguar Conservation Units (JCUs).

October 2001: Jaguar Prey Kill Intervals Monitored

From October 2001 to April 2004, 10 jaguars were monitored in the southern Pantanal. During the dry season, they killed prey every one to seven days. During the wet season, prey was killed every one to 16 days.

2001: Male Jaguar Kills Cubs in Emas National Park

In 2001, a male jaguar killed and partially consumed two cubs in Emas National Park. DNA paternity testing confirmed the male was the father.

2002: Jaguar Range Decline Estimated

In 2002, it was estimated that the range of the jaguar had declined to about 46% of its range in the early 20th century.

2002: IUCN Red List Status

In 2002, the jaguar was listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List due to threats like habitat loss, poaching, and killings from human-wildlife conflicts, with the wild population believed to have declined since the late 1990s.

2002: Jaguar Listed as Near Threatened on IUCN Red List

In 2002, the jaguar was listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, as the jaguar population has probably declined by 20–25% since the mid-1990s due to habitat loss, illegal killing, and trade.

2003: Jaguar Density Studies

Studies employing GPS telemetry in 2003 and 2004 found densities of six to seven jaguars per 100 km² in the Pantanal region, lower than traditional sampling methods suggested.

April 2004: Jaguar Prey Kill Intervals Monitored

2004: First Documented Black Jaguar in Northern Mexico

In 2004, a camera trap photographed the first documented black jaguar in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains in Northern Mexico.

2004: Jaguar Density Studies

Studies employing GPS telemetry in 2003 and 2004 found densities of six to seven jaguars per 100 km² in the Pantanal region, lower than traditional sampling methods suggested.

2005: National Conservation Strategy Developed

In 2005, Mexico began developing a national conservation strategy for jaguars.

June 2008: First Official Record of Jaguar Killing a Human in Brazil

June 2008 marks the date of the first official record of a jaguar killing a human in Brazil.

2008: Jaguars Killed in Alto Paraná Atlantic Forests

Between 1995 and 2008, at least 117 jaguars were killed in Iguaçu National Park and the adjacent Misiones Province in the Alto Paraná Atlantic forests.

2010: Optimal Routes for Wildlife Corridors Identified

In 2010, optimal routes of travel between core jaguar population units were identified to implement wildlife corridors connecting Jaguar Conservation Units (JCUs), covering an area of 2,600,000 km².

2010: Jaguar Population Count

In 2010, the estimated jaguar population in Mexico was approximately 4,000 individuals.

August 2012: Land set aside for Jaguar protection

In August 2012, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service designated 3,392.20 km (838,232 acres) of land in Arizona and New Mexico for jaguar protection.

2012: Forest Loss in Jaguar Range

Between 2000 and 2012, forest loss in the jaguar range amounted to 83,759 km², with fragmentation increasing in particular in corridors between Jaguar Conservation Units (JCUs).

2012: Jaguars Killed by Farmers in Belize

Between 2008 and 2012, at least 15 jaguars were killed by livestock farmers in central Belize.

2012: Vagrant Jaguar Recorded in Santa Rita Mountains

Between 2012 and 2015, a male vagrant jaguar was recorded in 23 locations in the Santa Rita Mountains.

2012: Jaguars Involved in Trade

Between 2012 and 2018, seizure reports indicate that at least 857 jaguars were involved in trade, including 482 individuals in Bolivia alone; 31 jaguars were seized in China.

2013: Cases of Infanticide Documented in Pantanal

In 2013, two more cases of jaguar infanticide were documented in the northern Pantanal, leading to observations about defensive behaviors by females.

2014: Jaguars Killed in Retaliation in Panama

Between 1998 and 2014, 220 of 230 jaguars were killed in Panama in retaliation for predation on livestock.

2014: Jaguar Fangs Seized

Between 2014 and early 2019, 760 jaguar fangs were seized that originated in Bolivia and were destined for China. Undercover investigations revealed that the smuggling of jaguar body parts is run by Chinese residents in Bolivia.

2014: JCUs Isolated due to Deforestation

By 2014, direct linkages between two JCUs in Bolivia were lost, and two JCUs in northern Argentina became completely isolated due to deforestation.

2015: Vagrant Jaguar Recorded in Santa Rita Mountains

Between 2012 and 2015, a male vagrant jaguar was recorded in 23 locations in the Santa Rita Mountains.

August 2016: Jaguar Parts for Sale in Tourist Markets

Between August 2016 and August 2019, jaguar skins and body parts were seen for sale in tourist markets in the Peruvian cities of Lima, Iquitos and Pucallpa.

2016: National Conservation Strategy Published

In 2016, Mexico published its national conservation strategy.

2017: Jaguar Considered a Monotypic Taxon

Since 2017, the jaguar is considered to be a monotypic taxon, although the modern Panthera onca onca is still distinguished from two fossil subspecies, Panthera onca augusta and Panthera onca mesembrina.

2018: Jaguars Involved in Trade

Between 2012 and 2018, seizure reports indicate that at least 857 jaguars were involved in trade, including 482 individuals in Bolivia alone; 31 jaguars were seized in China.

2018: Jaguar Population Increase

By 2018, the Mexican jaguar population increased to about 4,800 individuals, attributed to conservation measures.

2018: Jaguar Range Declined by 55% in Last Century

In 2018, it was estimated that the jaguar's range had declined by 55% in the last century, with the Amazon rainforest remaining its only stronghold.

April 2019: Jaguar Recovery Plan Published

In April 2019, the Jaguar Recovery Plan was published, defining Interstate 10 as the northern boundary of the Jaguar Recovery Unit in Arizona and New Mexico.

August 2019: Jaguar Parts for Sale in Tourist Markets

Between August 2016 and August 2019, jaguar skins and body parts were seen for sale in tourist markets in the Peruvian cities of Lima, Iquitos and Pucallpa.

2024: Jaguars Photographed in Southwestern US

Eight jaguars were photographed in the southwestern US between 1996 and 2024.

2024: Validity of Jaguar Subspecies Remains Unresolved

In 2024, a study suggested that the validity of subspecific assignments on both P. o. augusta and P. o. mesembrina remains unresolved, as both fossil and living jaguars show considerable morphometric variation.