It does not matter if people are living in the Computer Age or the Stone Age,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,humans have consistently rationalized that they have the right to kill carnivores for whatever reasons they deem justifiable...........In the Mecican Yucatan Peninsula, Jaguars have "protected status" but that does not stop farmers/ranchers from killing the big Cats.............This, even with a government compensation system to pay ranchers for their livestock animals killed by Jaguars..........As we discuss often on this blog, the main circumstances that cause the jaguars to attack farm animals or livestock is the deforestation and land conversion to pasture areas, the excessive hunting of wild species (their natural food) and the mishandling of the livestock.................... Above all, the fact of killing a jaguar, cougar or coyote will not solve the livestock predation problem...............

The killing of jaguar prevails in Yucatan

theyucatantimes.com

The killing of jaguars by farmers prevails in Yucatan, despite the support that is offered when their animals are attacked by this endangered feline, said the delegate of PROFEPA, José Lafontaine Hamui.

The federal official warned that there is no control in the killing of this protected species, even though it is well known that hunting the jaguar is a federal crime. He stressed the importance of establishing a program with farmers to strengthen the connection and operations to protect this endemic species of America.

José Lafontaine recalled that hunting, killing, possessing, transporting and selling a jaguar is a federal crime punishable with jail time and / or economic fines, and PROFEPA is the one filing criminal complaints in the Federal Public Ministry.

The main circumstances that cause the jaguars to attack farm animals or livestock are the deforestation and land conversion to pasture areas, the excessive hunting of wild species (their natural food) and the mishandling of the livestock. Above all, he stressed, the fact of killing a jaguar, cougar or coyote will not solve the problem, and the humans cannot change the food chain as in the case of big cats, which is a carnivorous species essential to the natural environment.

Due to the population growth, the jaguar and many other wildlife species have fewer habitats for development. Thus, they have less food, and worst of all, the illegal hunting of wild species that are part of its food chain leave less food available, therefore the jaguars attack livestock specially calves, sheep and goats.

The jaguar is an endangered animal that requires vast extension of land, as it is constantly moving and even travels great distances, so it is unknown the exact number of jaguars in Yucatan.

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The Jaguar

theyucatan.today.com

 

 

 There is no symbol more iconic for the Mayas than the jaguar.

The jaguar (Panthera onca) is the largest feline in America and the third largest in the world, after its relatives the tiger and the lion; together with the leopard, these are the only living species from the genus Panthera. These four cousins are the largest of the 40 species of felines in the world, 12 of whom live in the the Americas. The jaguar can be found from northern Mexico to northern Argentina, reaching weights of 330 pounds.

The jaguar in Mayan culture

The physical characteristics of felines such as the jaguar, with its extraordinary appearance, naturally represent cunning, strength, elegance, and flexibility. Its enigmatic eyes have always held a power over man, and the Mayas believed they could distinguish the reflection of fire or the sun in them. Its body is designed to be a lethal and effective hunter, particularly in the moments of half-light, for it possesses excellent eyesight, magnificent hearing, and its whiskers function as radar to calculate the distance from its prey.

These characteristics made the jaguar into a symbol of power and greatness for the Mayas, and was associated with natural forces, cosmic levels, vital energies, and death.

Threats to the jaguar today

Today the jaguar is a species in serious danger of extinction in Mexico, mainly due to the loss of its habitat and illegal hunting. Various organizations work in different activities and projects, as follows:

Pronatura Península de Yucatán AC: They work on the coexistence of felines with cattle ranchers at the Calakmul-Balam kú-Balam kin complex in the state of Campeche. The Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, SMAAS, the Universidad Autonónoma of the State of México, and Pronatura work together to prevent jaguar hunting, through training programs on cattle management and dissuasive measures.

Conservación del Jaguar Puuc: The 1,800 hectare private Kaxil Kiuic Biocultural Reserve, two hours south of Mérida, has initiated a project to protect the jaguar in the Puuc region. The director, James Callaghan, explains, “While we focus on jaguar protection, drawing attention to this charismatic animal also benefits environment, cultural heritage, and regional development in the Puuc.”

Panthera: Jaguars use and require protected areas, but they move beyond them in search of food, space, and in order to breed, to pass along their genes into the future. Panthera’s Jaguar Corridor Initiative aims to link core jaguar populations within the human landscape from northern Argentina to Mexico, preserving their genetic integrity so that jaguars can live in the wild forever