Species Spotlight: Jaguar

Jaguar in Mexico

Questions and Answers

Are jaguars agile or fast?
Known for its jump, the word jaguar means “he who kills with one leap” and it can also reach speeds of up to 50 mph over short distances.

Can jaguars swim and climb?
Jaguars are strong swimmers and climbers.

What are the main threats to jaguars in the wild?
Hunting and habitat loss due to deforestation continue to threaten jaguars’ survival.

 

  • Jaguar lies on a branch in a tree

    Habitat

    Forests and grasslands of South America

  • Camera trap of a jaguar (Panthera onca) in Brazil. Maracá-Jipioca Ecological Station, Amapa, Brazil.

    Diet

    Jaguars are strictly carnivorous and are excellent hunters.

  • Jaguar in the Amazon

    Threats

    Hunting and habitat loss due to deforestation continue to threaten the survival of jaguars.

  • Jaguar swimming

    Interesting Fact

    The largest native feline in the Americas, jaguars are dependent on healthy freshwater ecosystems and need a large territory to survive.

 

How you can help

Adopt a Jaguar

Adopt a jaguar

Make a symbolic jaguar adoption to help save some of the world's most endangered animals from extinction and support WWF's conservation efforts.

 Help jaguars by supporting WWF

Support WWF

Become a member of WWF and support our global conservation efforts.

Learn more about jaguars

 

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