Is reintroduction a tool for the conservation of the jaguarPanthera onca? A case study in the Brazilian Pantanal

Rose Lilian Gasparini-Morato,Ronaldo Gonçalves Morato,Pedro Teles,Carlos Eduardo Fragoso,Lilian Rampim,Mario Haberfeld,Joares Adenilson May,Leonardo Sartorello,Rogério Cunha De Paula

doi:10.1017/s0030605320000460

Rose Lilian Gasparini-Morato, Ronaldo Gonçalves Morato + Show 7 more

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https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605320000460

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Abstract

AbstractTo evaluate the feasibility of reintroduction as a tool for conservation of the jaguarPanthera onca, we adapted the IUCN soft release protocol to reintroduce two jaguars in the southern Pantanal, Brazil. After being kept at rescue centres for 13 months, the jaguars were moved to a 1-ha enclosure with native vegetation on a 53,000 ha ranch in the Pantanal, where hunting is not allowed and prey is abundant. In the enclosure, the animals were fed with meat, dead animals (roadkill) and then, progressively, live wild prey. After 11 months, the jaguars were fitted with collars equipped with GPS/VHF (recording one location per hour) and accelerometers, and released in the same area. The animals established residence near the enclosure, with home ranges, movement parameters, daily activity patterns and prey consumption similar to that recorded in previous studies. Social interaction and reproduction indicated the reintroduction was successful, and that it can be a tool for the species' survival in areas where the jaguar population is in decline.

Highlights

To evaluate the feasibility of reintroduction as a tool for conservation of the jaguar Panthera onca, we adapted the IUCN soft release protocol to reintroduce two jaguars in the southern Pantanal, Brazil
Reintroductions of apex predators, including the few attempts to reintroduce jaguars, have generally been poorly documented and measurement of failure or success has been hampered by the lack of prior definition of expected outcomes (Breitenmoser et al, )
To evaluate reintroduction as a tool for conservation of the jaguar, we adapted the IUCN ( ) soft release protocol to reintroduce two rescued jaguars in the southern Pantanal, Brazil (Fig. ). We chose this area based on five criteria: ( ) rescued animals were from the same region, ( ) knowledge of the species’ biology in the Pantanal was available, including for the release site (Cavalcanti & Gese, ), ( ) availability of suitable habitat, ( ) prey availability (Perilli et al, ), and ( ) acceptance by the local community

Summary

Introduction

To evaluate the feasibility of reintroduction as a tool for conservation of the jaguar Panthera onca, we adapted the IUCN soft release protocol to reintroduce two jaguars in the southern Pantanal, Brazil. Keywords Brazil, home range, jaguar, Pantanal, Panthera onca, reintroduction

Results

Conclusion