The jaguar, the largest cat of the Americas, is a formidable predator. The native Indian name ‘yaguara’, means ‘a beast that kills its prey with one bound’
Once found from the south-west USA, and throughout South America to the central-southern region of Argentina, they have been virtually eliminated from half of their original range. Now, most are found in the Amazon rainforest and the tropical wetland of the Pantanal. Brazil may contain half of all jaguars.
Jaguars are confident swimmers and opportunistic hunters that will prey on almost anything they encounter. In fact, they can stalk prey in water, even caimans! They are crepuscular, most active at early dawn or twilight.
