Jaguars
Jaguar
Panthera onca
The king of Costa Rica's big cats, the jaguar is extremely rare, shy, and well camouflaged, so the chance of seeing one is virtually non-existent.
From the Native American word "yaguar," meaning "pouncing killer," jaguars are the only Panthera species found in the Americas. The jaguar is the largest of the Central American carnivores, and one of the least often sighted due to their declining populations. The primary reason behind their declining populations is habitat loss, and an estimated 15,000 wild jaguars remain in Latin America according to the World Wildlife Fund.
At about five feet long and weighing up to 250 pounds, Costa Rica's largest carnivore can be active during the day and the evening, though it is very rare to see them during daylight hours. Some jaguars will adopt a more diurnal lifestyle while others may hunt only at dusk or dawn; the cats are highly adaptable, making adjustments as needed to suit their particular habitat. Jaguars are excellent swimmers and climbers but prefer to hunt on the ground in a complicated dance of stalking and ambushing.
Jaguars range from Mexico through parts of northern Argentina. Living between sea level and approximately 11,500 feet, they prefer lowland wet forest and tropical rainforest. In Costa Rica, jaguars are found in Corcovado National Park, La Selva Biological Reserve, La Amistad International Park, Santa Rosa National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Tortuguero, and along the Cerro de La Muerte.
From the Native American word "yaguar," meaning "pouncing killer," jaguars are the only Panthera species found in the Americas. The jaguar is the largest of the Central American carnivores, and one of the least often sighted due to their declining populations. The primary reason behind their declining populations is habitat loss, and an estimated 15,000 wild jaguars remain in Latin America according to the World Wildlife Fund.
At about five feet long and weighing up to 250 pounds, Costa Rica's largest carnivore can be active during the day and the evening, though it is very rare to see them during daylight hours. Some jaguars will adopt a more diurnal lifestyle while others may hunt only at dusk or dawn; the cats are highly adaptable, making adjustments as needed to suit their particular habitat. Jaguars are excellent swimmers and climbers but prefer to hunt on the ground in a complicated dance of stalking and ambushing.
Jaguars range from Mexico through parts of northern Argentina. Living between sea level and approximately 11,500 feet, they prefer lowland wet forest and tropical rainforest. In Costa Rica, jaguars are found in Corcovado National Park, La Selva Biological Reserve, La Amistad International Park, Santa Rosa National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Tortuguero, and along the Cerro de La Muerte.
Diurnal (adj.)- (of animals) active in the daytime.