International Jaguar Day: Saving the Spots!
Jaguars are the majestic, big cats of the Americas!
November 29th is International Jaguar Day, created to raise awareness of the increased threats faced by these iconic wild cats and to highlight critical conservation efforts.
Developed in March 2018 at the United Nation’s Headquarters for the Jaguar 2030 Forum, International Jaguar Day also serves to represent a ‘collective voice’ of jaguar-ranging countries who have collaborated with both national and international partners to raise awareness on the need for Jaguar habitat and corridor conservation. This is a part of broader efforts to achieve the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Jaguars face three big challenges: conflict over the livestock, poaching and illegal trafficking, and habitat loss and conversion. The goal of International Jaguar Day is: to provide educational information and resources to the public, inspire community outreach and engage participation in protecting the western hemisphere’s largest cat.
Here are 5 interesting facts about the Jaguar:
- Jaguars are the largest of South America’s big cats and the third largest cats in the world.
- The name jaguar comes from the Native American word yaguar, which means ‘he who kills with one leap’.
- Their fur is usually tan or orange with black spots, called “rosettes” because they are shaped like roses.
- Jaguars live alone and mark their territory with their waste or by clawing trees.
- Adult jaguars weigh between 45 to 113 kilograms and can live to be 12 to 15 years old in the wild.
