Threats to Jaguars
The Vicious Cycle
A brutal cycle has been formed which concludes to the extinction of Jaguars in South and Central America. This cycle is to blame for the recent endangerment of jaguars. The cycle starts with the loss of habitat when mining fields, ranches, towns, roads, residential subdivisions, and farms are built in the jaguar’s natural habitat. These are areas that the jaguar needs to live and hunt in. The loss of this territory limits the jaguar’s migration routes and its access to nutrients. In effect, the jaguar dies due to starvation or the jaguar is forced to venture out into unfamiliar habitat in order to find prey. Habitat is taken away from jaguars by deforestation in order to create farms carrying industrialized crops and live stalk. The jaguars often prey on the new live stalk within the farm to feed to cows, goats, pigs, etc. This is the second stage in the cycle. The last stage is when the farmers/ranchers of the farm hunt down and kill the jaguars because of the death of their live stalk. |
Threats in the Past
During the 1960s and 1970s, the use of animal skins and prints became a very well-known trend. Among other popular animal furs, jaguar fur was favoured in the fashion industry due to its beautiful and unique rosette-patterned skin. Approximately 18 000 wild jaguars were hunted and killed each year during the 60s and 70s to be manufactured and sold. This inhumanity ended in 1973 when the Convention of the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) was created which advocated to stop the exploitation of jaguars. Due to the creation of this organization, the trade of jaguar pelt is illegal in most countries across the globe. |
Poachers
Even though poaching is very inhumane and illegal in most countries, jaguar hunting is very popular among poachers. This is due to the stunning fur patterns that jaguars possess; poachers often prize these jaguar skins.
Even though poaching is very inhumane and illegal in most countries, jaguar hunting is very popular among poachers. This is due to the stunning fur patterns that jaguars possess; poachers often prize these jaguar skins.