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Help researchers and local communities to monitor jaguars and their prey populations in the most diverse region of Mexico, the Lacandona rainforest.
The jaguar is the most emblematic species in Southern Mexico, but its populations are declining due to habitat loss and direct kills as a result of domestic cattle predation. Camera traps are placed in protected areas and local communities’ reserves; these areas are key jaguar habitat and corridors. The cameras are placed with the involvement of the landowners and the park guards in a participatory monitoring program. The information is used to monitor the jaguars and their prey populations, their activity patterns and habitat use.
The cameras are also looking at jaguars and other large predators such as pumas in cattle ranches which have implemented deterrents to avoid jaguar predation upon the domestic cattle, so every record of large predators is important to evaluate if the intervention actions implemented to mitigate the threats for this species in the region are actually effective.
This project is running by Jaguares de la Selva Maya program, which is a partnership between Bioconciencia and Natura y Ecosistemas Mexicanos, both Mexican non-profit organizations
