Big Cats Research Articles

Smilodon fatalis Bite Mechanisms: New Functional Considerations in Jaw and Articular Disk Reconstruction

Smilodon fatalis is among the most iconic of fossil sabertooths, best known for elongated canine teeth that enabled it to kill large prey. S. fatalis reconstructions published over the last 150 years (as well as many natural history exhibits) are typically modeled after living large conical tooth cat anatomy because there are no living sabertooths. Dental and correlated musculoskeletal differences between the living and extinct cats with the two different dentition types have led to misinterpretations of the appearance and gape capabilities of Smilodon. Historically, the way in which the S. fatalis skull and mandible soft tissues have been reconstructed does not take into account the bite angles that are the most useful for a living cat. Specifically, the angle at which the mandible and maxilla can move in relation to one another must also account for the effect generated by the muscles and tendons that limit jaw opening and closing. The usual reconstructed display shows a mandible that could not open sufficiently to allow a gape wide enough to encompass the diameter of a chicken's egg. The jaw joint is often oriented so that it would not generate much bite force, as it sometimes is positioned to look as though it is dangling uselessly. The articular disk has been ignored. In this study, we are testing hypotheses related to the typically depicted canine tooth positions and the lack of inclusion of soft tissue influences such as the articular disk that is usually present in the craniomandibular joint. By reconstructing the size, shape, thickness, and then inserting an articular disk, the jaw then lines up correctly, and a bite force can be more accurately calculated. We tried several different methods of estimating the size of the articular disk using paper, leather, felt, and silicone until we found one that allowed the mandible and maxilla to line up precisely. This works to solve the two common issues; computer-based studies that modeled the amount of bite force in S. fatalis with a few showing a powerful bite and secondly, canines are often mounted so far out of their alveoli that the S-shaped dentine margin is exposed. Exposed dentine and jaw misalignment would be very painful to a living animal and would decrease the mechanical advantage of the upper canines. When the upper canine alveoli are not maximally filled, the teeth are less securely anchored. By seating the upper canines properly S. fatalis could use these teeth with a decreased likelihood of breakage from the bite forces generated. S. fatalis evolved with long slender bladelike canines. This tooth configuration would be especially susceptible to breakage from large bending moments and torque. To use these teeth effectively, the bite needs to be in line with the anteroposterior axis of the head and aimed toward the jugular groove of the neck of prey, with minimal side-to-side movement. Anchoring the canines securely in their alveoli helps eliminate this problem. Our data shows that revisioning the S. fatalism skull gives a more accurate picture of the way this cat lived, killed its large prey, and our new data allows for scientists recalculate bite forces.

Investigating the effect of social grouping on the behaviour of captive leopards

Big cats are both popular and well represented in zoological collections worldwide, and there is considerable interest in evidence-based studies to develop best practice husbandry guidelines. The majority of big cat species, including the leopard Panthera pardus are typically solitary in the wild, whereas in zoos they are sometimes maintained as pairs or larger groups. This study investigates the behaviour of six leopards housed as a trio, a pair, and singleton in the Parco Faunistico Valcorba, Italy. Behavioural data were collected using instantaneous focal sampling at one-minute intervals with continuous recording for events, and Electivity Index was used to assess the use of each enclosure zone by individual leopards. Poisson regressions were used to determine whether individual leopard, weather and decibel levels were predictors of behaviour change. Overall, the Poisson regressions were significant for all behaviours except allogrooming. Both affiliative and aggressive behaviours were observed most frequently in the recently mixed trio, and these were often initiated by the male. By contrast, the pair of leopards rarely interacted with one another. Irrespective of condition, leopards tended to overutilize a few key zones in their exhibits and did not use their enclosures evenly. However, there were differences in zone overlap: the pair housed leopards appeared to use different zones to one another, whilst the trio of leopards appeared to use similar zones. These data suggest that group housing may be a viable housing strategy for leopards, provided that the animals are given the opportunity to avoid each other should they choose to do so. However, personality and compatibility of leopards is likely to be a confounding factor that must be considered when developing group-housing husbandry strategies. Further studies with a focus on group housing of other felid species would be valuable to evidence-base their captive husbandry.

African and Asian leopards are highly differentiated at the genomic level

Leopards are the only big cats still widely distributed across the continents of Africa and Asia. They occur in a wide range of habitats and are often found in close proximity to humans. But despite their ubiquity, leopard phylogeography and population history have not yet been studied with genomic tools. Here, we present population-genomic data from 26 modern and historical samples encompassing the vast geographical distribution of this species. We find that Asian leopards are broadly monophyletic with respect to African leopards across almost their entire nuclear genomes. This profound genetic pattern persists despite the animals' high potential mobility, and despite evidence of transfer of African alleles into Middle Eastern and Central Asian leopard populations within the last 100,000 years. Our results further suggest that Asian leopards originated from a single out-of-Africa dispersal event 500-600 thousand years ago and are characterized by higher population structuring, stronger isolation by distance, and lower heterozygosity than African leopards. Taxonomic categories do not take into account the variability in depth of divergence among subspecies. The deep divergence between the African subspecies and Asian populations contrasts with the much shallower divergence among putative Asian subspecies. Reconciling genomic variation and taxonomy is likely to be a growing challenge in the genomics era.

Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) Genetics: The Knowledge Gaps, Needs, and Implications for Conservation

Conservation geneticists apply genetic theory and techniques to preserve endangered species as dynamic entities, capable of coping with environmental change and thus minimizing their risk of extinction. Snow leopards are an umbrella species of High Asia, and a keystone for maintaining biodiversity within this fragile ecosystem. A clear understanding of patterns of snow leopard genetic diversity is critical for guiding conservation initiatives that will ensure their long-term persistence. Yet, a comprehensive analysis of snow leopard genetic variation is lacking. The number of published snow leopard genetic studies is far fewer than for other imperiled big cats. Here, I review the limited genetic work to date on snow leopards and the significant knowledge gaps to be filled. An emphasis must be placed on describing and understanding population genetic dynamics within and among meta-populations to provide information about the interactions between landscapes and the micro-evolutionary processes of gene flow and genetic drift. These results can be used to evaluate the levels and dynamics of genetic and demographic connectivity. A lack of connectivity, particularly in the low density, small populations that typify snow leopards, can lead to multiple demographic and genetic consequences, including inbreeding depression, loss of adaptive potential, and heightened susceptibility to demographic and environmental stochasticity. New efforts in conservation research on snow leopards should focus on this line of inquiry, and the opportunities and challenges for that are outlined and discussed to encourage the required, and considerable, transboundary partnerships and collaborations needed to be successful.

Cluster analysis in ethological research

Big cats are often on display in zoos around the world. The study of their time budget is the basis of ethological research in captivity. The paper considers the features of the behavior of the subfamily Pantherinae, the daily activity of animals in the summer, methods of keeping, the exposition of enclosures, and relationships with keepers. The studies were conducted in the summer of 2012 and 2013 at the Barnaul Zoo. The total observation time for the animals was 120 hours. The behavior of the African lion (Panthera leo leo – male), the Ussuri tiger (Panthera tigris altaica – female), and the Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis – male) has been studied. In the course of the work, the compilation of ethograms, continuous recording, and free observations were used. The clustering method was applied to analyze the patterns of behavior of animals in captivity. Cluster analysis breaks down the behavior of captivities animals into two large blocks. Locomotion in animals should be considered as a separate block. The animal’s growth and development period require a high proportion of physical activity, which is noticeable when observing the Amur tiger. Locomotion occupied 32.8% of the total time budget of this animal. Large cats have never been in a shelter (in wooden structures of the appropriate size). They used the roof of the houses only as a place for rest and observation. The proportion of marking, hunting, eating, exploratory behavior, grooming, and such forms of behavior as freezing, static position, orienting reaction did not differ significantly. Play behavior with elements of hunting and manipulative activity took 5.5% of the Amur tiger’s time budget for the period under review. We associate this primarily with the age of the given animal. Play behavior was observed two times less often in the Far Eastern leopard (2.9%) and African lion (2.6%)..

Yield and Physiological Indices of Lentil Genotypes Against Drought Stress

Four lentil genotypes/varieties BLX-010014-9, ILI-5143, BARI Mosur-3 and BARI Mosur-2 were given irrigation regimes (with and without irrigation) to evaluate the physiological indices of genotypes against drought stress. The experiment was conducted during rabi (winter) season of 2017-18 under pot culture at the Plant Physiology Division of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI). The experimental design was randomized completed block (RCBD) with six replications. Irrespective of genotypes/varieties, physiological parameters as well as seed yield were greatly affected due to irrigation regimes. Based on physiological parameters like accumulation of chlorophyll, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidantthe genotype BLX-010014-9 was found to be drought tolerant due to its higher and lower values of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant indices (greater CAT, POD, APX and lower MDA) across the irrigation levels treatment. This genotype may be further explored to characterize its genes and mechanisms against drought stress for increased lentil production and way to developing the drought tolerant variety/varieties.
 Bangladesh Agron. J. 2020, 23(2): 97-102

Transmission of COVID-19 between Animals and Humans: A challenge for the Scientists

In recent decades, some 30 new human pathogens have been identified, of which 75% were spillovers from animals. In late 2019, human infections with a new coronavirus from an unknown origin emerged in China and later spread worldwide. The zoonotic source of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 remains unknown, and there is only some limited information about the close association between the first human cases of COVID-19 and visiting animal markets. Now, bats and pangolins are suspected as natural hosts, and large cats, raccoon dogs, dogs, minks, ferrets, and pangolins as intermediate hosts. There is not enough evidence to prove that animals can transmit COVID-19 infection to humans, but there are some data about the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 between humans and some animal species.

Wavelet methods reveal big cat activity patterns and synchrony of activity with preys.

Appropriate temporal and spatial scales are important prerequisites for obtaining reliable results in studies of wildlife activity patterns and interspecific interactions. The spread of camera-trap technology has increased interest in and feasibility of studying the activity patterns and interspecific interactions of wildlife. However, such studies are often conducted at arbitrary spatial and temporal scales, and the methods used impose scale on the study rather than determining how activity and species interactions change with spatial scale. In this study, we used a wavelet-based approach to determine the temporal and spatial scales for activity patterns and interspecific interactions on Amur leopard and their ungulate prey species that were recorded using camera traps in the main Amur leopard occurrence region in northeast China. Wavelets identified that Amur leopards were more active in spring and fall than summer, and fluctuated with periodicities of 9 and 17 days, respectively. Synchronous relationships between leopards and their prey commonly occurred in spring and fall, with a periodicity of about 20 days, indicating the appropriate seasons and temporal scales for interspecific interaction research. The influence of human activities on the activity patterns of Amur leopard or prey species often occurred over longer time periods (60-64 days). Two-dimensional wavelet analyses showed that interactions between leopard and prey were more significant at spatial scales of 1 km2 . Overall, our study provides a feasible approach to studying the temporal and spatial scales for wildlife activity patterns and interspecific interaction research using camera trap data.

High genetic diversity and low differentiation reflect the ecological versatility of the African leopard

Large carnivores are generally sensitive to ecosystem changes because their specialized diet and position at the top of the trophic pyramid is associated with small population sizes. Accordingly, low genetic diversity at the whole-genome level has been reported for all big cat species, including the widely distributed leopard. However, all previous whole-genome analyses of leopards are based on the Far Eastern Amur leopards that live at the extremity of the species' distribution and therefore are not necessarily representative of the whole species. We sequenced 53 whole genomes of African leopards. Strikingly, we found that the genomic diversity in the African leopard is 2- to 5-fold higher than in other big cats, including the Amur leopard, likely because of an exceptionally high effective population size maintained by the African leopard throughout the Pleistocene. Furthermore, we detected ongoing gene flow and very low population differentiation within African leopards compared with those of other big cats. We corroborated this by showing a complete absence of an otherwise ubiquitous equatorial forest barrier to gene flow. This sets the leopard apart from most other widely distributed large African mammals, including lions. These results revise our understanding of trophic sensitivity and highlight the remarkable resilience of the African leopard, likely because of its extraordinary habitat versatility and broad dietary niche.

Microsatellite characterization and development of unified STR panel for big cats in captivity: a case study from a Seoul Grand Park Zoo, Republic of Korea.

The zoos manage small populations of endangered big cat species like tiger, lion, and leopard for display, research, and conservation breeding. Genetic management of these populations is essential to ensure long term survival and conservation utility. Here we propose a simple and cost effective microsatellite based protocol for the genetic management of captive big cats. We sampled 36 big cat individuals from Seoul Grand Park Zoo (Republic of Korea) and amplified 33 published microsatellite loci. Overall, allelic richness and gene diversity was found highest for leopards, followed by lions and tigers. Twelve of the thirty-three markers showed a high degree of polymorphism across all target species. These microsatellites provide a high degree of discrimination for tiger (1.45 × 10-8), lion (1.54 × 10-10), and leopard (1.88 × 10-12) and thus can be adopted for the genetic characterization of big cats in accredited zoos globally. During captive breeding, zoo authorities rely on pedigree records maintained in studbooks to ensure mating of genetically fit unrelated individuals. Several studies have reported errors in studbook records of big cat species. Microsatellites are simple and cost effective tool for DNA fingerprinting, estimation of genetic diversity, and paternity assessment. Our unified microsatellite panel (12-plex) for big cats is efficient and can easily be adopted by zoo authorities for regular population management.

Comparison of big cat food habits in the Amazon piedmont forest in two Bolivian protected areas

The feeding habits of jaguar (Panthera onca) and puma (Puma concolor) were studied in the lower Tuichi, Hondo (PNANMI Madidi) and Quiquibey (RB Pilón Lajas) river valleys. A total of 122 large felid scats were collected and identified by an experienced local guide, with identifications later confirmed by morphometry. Of this total, 54 were also identified using associated tracks. For jaguar, prey species richness was 25 species considering all scats and 20 species only considering those scats associated with tracks. For puma, 28 and 22 prey species were obtained, respectively. The results indicate that there is low trophic niche overlap between both cats (0.46 and 0.44 respectively). The breadth of the trophic niche indicates that the jaguar is more specialized in its diet (0.28 and 0.42 respectively), mainly due to the high consumption of the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), which contributes significantly to jaguar prey biomass. The puma has a more generalist tendency (0.56 and 0.58 respectively), with the spotted paca (Cuniculus paca) the most frequently consumed prey and also contributing the most biomass. Despite the fact that both felines share most of their prey, jaguar and puma differ in the frequency of prey consumption.

Can mammals thrive near urban areas in the Neotropics? Characterizing the community of a reclaimed tropical forest

Mammals figure prominently in tropical ecology because of their role in seed dispersal, herbivore control, and nutrient cycling. Urbanization is a conservation concern for mammals not only because of lost habitat, but also other negative impacts such as illegal hunting and pollution. Some mammals are resilient to urbanization and can persist in degraded habitats; however, this has not been studied in many tropical sites. We used camera traps to study mammals in Peperpot Nature Park (PNP), a secondary forest located 5 km from the capital of Suriname, and compared it to the large Central Suriname Nature Reserve (CSNR). We found fewer species in PNP (20) compared to CSNR (30), however, PNP included apex predators and species of conservation concern, and the two sites had a similar relative abundance of large cats and most mesocarnivores. Smaller mammal species had higher relative abundance at PNP while larger herbivores were scarce or absent, likely from poaching, as PNP is still connected to interior forests. The detection models revealed that the park, the camera trap was set in, was the most common significant factor for most species, suggesting that broader landscape level effects are important. In occupancy models, the null model was the most common top model across species, but then followed by park. Despite fewer species being detected than in large protected areas, the presence of some species in PNP which are historically absent in developed areas shows promise for small urban tropical forests to support robust mammal communities, provided they maintain some connectivity to larger source habitats.

Smilodon fatalis siblings reveal life history in a saber-toothed cat.

SummaryThe saber-toothed cat Smilodon fatalis is known predominantly from “predator trap” deposits, which has made many aspects of its life history difficult to infer. Here, we describe an association of at least two subadult and one adult S. fatalis from Pleistocene coastal deposits in Ecuador. The assemblage likely derived from a catastrophic mass mortality event, and thereby provides insights into the behavior of the species. The presence of a P3 in the subadult dentaries suggests inheritance, a rare instance of familial relatedness in the fossil record. The siblings were at least two years old and were associated with an adult that was likely their mother, indicating prolonged parental care in S. fatalis. Comparison with the growth of pantherine cats suggests that S. fatalis had a unique growth strategy among big cats that combines a growth rate that is similar to a tiger and the extended growth period of a lion.

Species bias and spillover effects in scientific research on Carnivora in China.

Scientific research provides essential information for conservation of threatened species. Data deficiency due to insufficient research impedes the design of conservation plans, and research bias may mistakenly direct limited resources to low biodiversity regions or less threatened species. Here, we conducted a systematic review of published papers, grants, and graduate student training on carnivorans in China to identify species bias and research gaps. Furthermore, we collected intrinsic and extrinsic features of carnivorans, and identified features that impact research intensity using generalized linear models. We found that the amount of research on carnivorans increased markedly after 2000, but species bias existed. Bears and big cats received the greatest research attention, while most small- and medium-sized carnivorans received little attention, thus showing the 80–20 phenomenon. Species with a higher level of endemism and protection under Chinese law received more consideration. As an animal conservation icon in China, the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) attracted more than 50% of overall carnivoran research resources. However, the giant panda also showed spillover effects, i.e., post-doctoral graduates who studied the giant panda shifted their research focus to other species after graduation, which may help improve research on other species. Thus, to improve and strengthen Carnivora research and conservation, we suggest investing greater effort in species of less concern, training of more graduate students, and reinforcing academic exchange. If such actions are not taken, many carnivoran species will continue being data deficient and threatened.

Measuring, evaluating and improving the effectiveness of invasive predator control programs: Feral cat baiting as a case study

Reducing the impacts of invasive predators is a key objective for conservation managers, livestock producers and human health agencies globally. The efficacy of invasive predator control programs, however, is highly variable. To improve control efficacy, managers require a fundamental understanding of the factors that contribute to the success or failure of a control program. Using a predator baiting program as a case study, we measured the efficacy of baiting as a control tool to significantly reduce feral cat (Felis catus) populations. We used camera traps and cat-borne GPS collars to monitor changes in feral cat populations at a baited site and an unbaited site, using a Before-After, Control-Impact (BACI) design. We also identified five key elements required for a successful baiting program (bait encounter rate, availability, attractiveness, palatability and lethality) and simultaneously measured these to identify areas for potential improvement. Baiting was ineffective at reducing feral cat populations; collared cat mortality was only 11% (1/9), with camera traps revealing negligible reductions in the number of cat detection events (9%), naïve occupancy (15%), and no significant change in the relative abundance of feral cats (F1,54 = 0.8641, P = 0.357). Several factors contributed to the poor control efficacy. Bait encounter rates were low, with cats active along tracks (where baits were laid) < 4% of the time. Cats encountered only 14% (7/50) of monitored baits, but none were eaten. Initially, baits appeared attractive to cats; however meat ants and desiccation rapidly decreased bait palatability. Bait availability to cats declined rapidly, with 36% of monitored baits (18/50) removed by non-target species within the first 48 h. The mortality of one collared cat and chemical assays confirmed that, on average, each bait contained sufficient 1080 to kill a large (>5 kg) feral cat. Our findings suggest that altering bait deployment patterns, increasing bait densities and improving bait palatability could potentially improve the efficacy of baiting programs to reduce feral cat populations. Our study provides a framework to measure and evaluate the key elements that contribute to efficacy of pest control programs, and to identify opportunities for improving outcomes of future control programs.

In the shadows of snow leopards and the Himalayas: density and habitat selection of blue sheep in Manang, Nepal.

There is a growing agreement that conservation needs to be proactive and pay increased attention to common species and to the threats they face. The blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) plays a key ecological role in sensitive high‐altitude ecosystems of Central Asia and is among the main prey species for the globally vulnerable snow leopard (Panthera uncia). As the blue sheep has been increasingly exposed to human pressures, it is vital to estimate its population dynamics, protect the key populations, identify important habitats, and secure a balance between conservation and local livelihoods. We conducted a study in Manang, Annapurna Conservation Area (Nepal), to survey blue sheep on 60 transects in spring (127.9 km) and 61 transects in autumn (134.7 km) of 2019, estimate their minimum densities from total counts, compare these densities with previous estimates, and assess blue sheep habitat selection by the application of generalized additive models (GAMs). Total counts yielded minimum density estimates of 6.0–7.7 and 6.9–7.8 individuals/km2 in spring and autumn, respectively, which are relatively high compared to other areas. Elevation and, to a lesser extent, land cover indicated by the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) strongly affected habitat selection by blue sheep, whereas the effects of anthropogenic variables were insignificant. Animals were found mainly in habitats associated with grasslands and shrublands at elevations between 4,200 and 4,700 m. We show that the blue sheep population size in Manang has been largely maintained over the past three decades, indicating the success of the integrated conservation and development efforts in this area. Considering a strong dependence of snow leopards on blue sheep, these findings give hope for the long‐term conservation of this big cat in Manang. We suggest that long‐term population monitoring and a better understanding of blue sheep–livestock interactions are crucial to maintain healthy populations of blue sheep and, as a consequence, of snow leopards.

Animals and SARS-CoV-2: Species susceptibility and viral transmission in experimental and natural conditions, and the potential implications for community transmission.

The current COVID‐19 global pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) of probable bat origin, has highlighted the ongoing need for a One Health response to emerging zoonotic disease events. Understanding the human–animal interface and its relevance to disease transmission remains a critical control point for many emerging zoonoses. Determination of the susceptibility of various animal species to infection with SARS‐CoV‐2 and the role of animals in the epidemiology of the disease will be critical to informing appropriate human and veterinary public health responses to this pandemic. A scoping literature review was conducted to collect, evaluate and present the available research evidence regarding SARS‐CoV‐2 infections in animals. Experimental studies have successfully demonstrated SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and transmission in cats, ferrets, hamsters, bats and non‐human primates under experimental settings. Dogs appear to have limited susceptibility to SARS‐CoV‐2, while other domestic species including pigs and poultry do not appear susceptible. Naturally occurring SARS‐CoV‐2 infections in animals appear uncommon, with 14 pets, 8 captive big cats and an unreported number of farmed mink testing positive at the time of writing (early July 2020). Infections typically appear asymptomatic in dogs, while clinical signs of respiratory and/or gastrointestinal disease tend to be mild to moderate in felines, and severe to fatal in mink. Most animals are presumed to have been infected by close contact with COVID‐19 patients. In domestic settings, viral transmission is self‐limiting; however in high‐density animal environments, there can be sustained between‐animal transmission. To date, two potential cases of animal‐to‐human transmission are being investigated, on infected mink farms. Given the millions of COVID‐19 cases worldwide and ongoing potential for further zoonotic and anthroponotic viral transmission, further research and surveillance activities are needed to definitively determine the role of animals in community transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2.

Commercially-driven lion part removal: What is the evidence from mortality records?

Trade-driven killing for body parts has long been a major cause of population decline for a number of big cat species. There are now worrying suggestions that commercialised illegal trade in body parts might become a threat for wild lions in Africa, and recent concerns have been raised that trade in captive-bred lion skeletons from South Africa may have stimulated demand for lion bones, claws, and teeth and thus incentivised commercially-driven, targeted poaching of wild lions for illegal trade. However, analysis of the prevalence of commercially-driven, targeted killing of lions for body parts is currently lacking for most major lion populations. In this study we make use of detailed, long-term records of mortality and body part removal from field sites in two of Africa’s lion population strongholds, the Hwange National Park and surrounds, Zimbabwe, within the Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area and the Ruaha landscape in Tanzania, to evaluate potential cases of commercially-driven part removal and targeted killings. We find no evidence of systemic targeted killing of lions for commercial trade at either site and suggest that the majority of part removals are opportunistic and culturally-driven. Nevertheless, we stress the requirement for vigilance around the issue of lion trade and support the development of further range-wide capacity to record wild lion mortality and body part removal data.

Life-threatening hyperkalaemia during general anaesthesia in a domestic short-haired cat

There are an increasing number of reports describing the development of hyperkalaemia in healthy veterinary patients during general anaesthesia. While the majority of cases are dogs, it has also been...

Effectiveness of protected areas for jaguars: the case of the Taiamã Ecological Station in Brazil

The largest feline in the Americas and the third largest in the world, the jaguar is an apex predator in the food chain and a key species in the ecosystems where it occurs, developing important ecological functions in maintaining ecosystem balance. In Brazil, the Pantanal is considered an important refuge for the species, and protected areas such as the Taiamã Ecological Station (TES) are relevant for conservation of pristine ecosystem where the species persist. Thus, considering that this area is located in one of the regions with the highest concentration of this large cat in the Pantanal, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the protection given by the TES for the jaguar population. The station is a flooded island in the middle of the Paraguay river and surrounded by extensive wetlands. We monitored ten jaguars using GPS collar at the TES and its surroundings. The samples were separated into high-water season (January to June) and low-water season (July to December), and the estimated home ranges were grouped as: 1) residents only and 2) all monitored individuals. The stabilization of the home ranges of eight jaguars, considered residents, was determined through variograms. When all jaguars were analysed together there was 55% overlap between the clustered areas of the two analysed seasons. In the analysis excluding non-resident individuals there was 72% overlap between the clustered areas. The type of land cover inside these areas was very similar between these periods. The range of this protected area is not sufficient to effectively protect these jaguar populations, since the grouped home ranges of the resident animals studied are 3.5(wet)/2.5(dry) times larger than the area of the TES. However, the surroundings of the TES have low human impact and no deforestation and, in this way, the landscape context of the station may have a significant effect on the persistence of a large carnivore like the jaguar. However, it is necessary to create more protected areas in order to prevent possible future environmental changes in the areas surrounding TES.