Jaguar Population on the Rise in Yucatan Peninsula

Preliminary findings from the Third National Jaguar Census suggest a growth in the jaguar population from 2018 to 2024. The remaining habitats for these majestic felines are primarily located on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Marco Antonio Lazcano Barrero, the general director and co-founder of the El Eden ecological reserve, shared these initial results. The census took place in the reserve, which forms part of the Yum Balam-Sian Ka'an Biological Corridor. This region is crucial for the conservation of jaguars and migratory birds.

Over a span of three months, various trap cameras were set up to capture images of this endangered species. The presence of jaguars is a key indicator of environmental quality and biodiversity conservation.

In Quintana Roo, three locations were monitored during the census: Laguna OM, Sian Ka'an, and El Eden. These sites have been the focus of ongoing efforts for natural conservation. Laguna OM in Quintana Roo recorded the highest jaguar density with 13.8 per 100 square kilometers. In contrast, Celestún, Yucatán, had the fewest specimens with 1.8 individuals.

Despite the ongoing environmental degradation in some regions due to urban growth, the decline in jaguar populations appears to have been reversed. All three censuses have recorded adult females with their offspring, and the second census noted reproductive events, with jaguar pairs moving together. Unique spot patterns on the jaguars allow for individual identification.

Biological Corridors have been established throughout the country to aid in jaguar conservation. However, further work is needed to maintain these corridors with wildlife crossings. In the north of Quintana Roo alone, it is estimated that there are 300 to 350 individuals. Without these corridors, these jaguars risk becoming isolated.

Barrero noted that the El Eden reserve, purchased in 1991, has grown from 960 hectares to four thousand hectares. The reserve is situated in the unique geological area of the Holbox fracture, which creates depressions and wetlands. Despite its relatively small size, El Eden is home to approximately 70 percent of the vertebrates found on the Yucatan Peninsula. This high species count is attributed to the area's high level of conservation and connectivity.