On behalf of the jaguar, the zoo supports four different conservation projects in jaguar habitat:
The Conservation Status of Jaguars, Pumas, and Tapirs and Their Potential as Landscape Detectives for the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, led by Laury Cullen, Jr., M.Sc. and Patricia Medici
This project aims to protect one of the last remaining Atlantic Forest populations of jaguars, pumas and lowland tapirs. Specific objectives include: (1) estimating the population size of jaguars, pumas, and tapirs in the Morro do Diabo State Park and neighboring Atlantic Forest fragments; (2) assessing the genetic status of these fragmented and isolated populations; and (3) investigating these species as potential "landscape detectives" (i.e., can the animals dispersal and travel routes reveal what lands should be protected as wildlife corridors?).
Status of Jaguar in Southern Brazil, led by Peter G. Crawshaw, Jr., Ph.D.
The jaguar is thought to be extinct in the region, with the last known individuals shot in the 1970s. However, there have been recent reports of jaguar sightings in the area. And there are still many remote, forested areas where the puma has made a remarkable recovery, due to a decrease of hunting in the area. Some of the reports from local people are inconclusive as to the species of large cat, with descriptions being more indicative of jaguar than of puma. The present study investigates more thoroughly the possibility of the presence of jaguar, which, if confirmed, would represent the southern limit of the species in South America.
Camera-trapping is a tactic whereby remote cameras are placed in areas that animals use as "through-ways" on their hunting and foraging routes. The animals trip sensors, thereby recording their existence. This helps to build a picture of jaguar densities and habitat use across the range to assess overall jaguar population size, the viability of various subpopulations and the efficiency of protected areas in protecting these animals. This methodology will also help to monitor jaguar populations over time, both at sites with few direct jaguar threats and in areas where persecution, habitat loss and/or prey density reduction are major issues.
Developed in 1994 by ethnobotanist Dr. Mark Plotkin and administered by The Amazon Conservation Team, the program helps to protect the health and knowledge of the shamans, or native healers. Woodland Park Zoo funds are supporting the shamans of the Kofan people of Colombia. The support also helps the healers pass along their knowledge of the medicinal properties of rain forest plants to future generations. Medicinal plant gardens (chagras) and health brigades are established that help remote villages that have lost their shamans.