A clear path
With no known breeding in the U.S. since 1910 (McCain, 2008) it’s crucial that the border not be blocked. By building walls and fences the U.S. is eliminating the jaguar’s dispersal and preventing their population’s recovery (McCain, 2008). More research, surveys, and observation must be carried out to understand the extent of their range in the U.S., especially on cross-border connectivity. (McCain, 2008)
Created by Moncrief and Larsen, SEA-DISC Sir Francis Drake High School, 2017
Desert landscape, (Moncrief, 2017)
A strategy that could be incredibly beneficial for cross-border connectivity is maintaining positive relations with Mexico and especially with the breeding area of Sonora, Mexico. This location is crucial for jaguars. A partnership with Mexico (who also has jaguars listed as endangered) could prove to be very helpful for opening a habitat corridor for jaguars to move between Mexico and the United States (which is currently even more difficult due to the cross border fencing) (Jaguar, Panthera onca).
The organization supporting jaguar conservation, Defenders of Wildlife, criticizes the U.S. recovery plan for undervaluing the importance of jaguars’ northern range to adequately implement conservation measures for them to recover their territory (Defenders of Wildlife, 2017). They advocate that the FWS adopt more meaningful recovery criteria in a greater portion of their range in the Southwest. They want a critical habitat proposal to protect key habitats and habitat corridors to allow jaguars in Mexico to establish new territories in Arizona and New Mexico (Defenders of Wildlife, 2017).
Peering through brush, (Timbako, 2017)