Brazilian Jaguars in Danger
Although the Pantanal is Brazil’s best-preserved biome, jaguars occupy just 47%, and the effective size of the population is estimated at less than 1,000 individuals. Hunting for retaliation, preventive, and recreational purposes is the main problem leading to the reduction of these jaguars.
Protection Through Ecotourism
The Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant to Sustentare, the US partner of ONÇAFARI, the Brazilian wildlife organization. The grant will support ONÇAFARI’s effort to establish several “re-wilding” facilities. ONÇAFARI has had considerable success in re-introducing injured or orphaned jaguars into the wild, and it now wishes to establish facilities that will allow it to re-introduce other endangered species into Brazil’s tropical forest, including tapirs and Pantanal deer. The grant will support the construction of these re-wilding facilities over a two-year period.