Jaguars in Danger: Urbanization Threatens Survival

The survival of jaguars in the Yucatan Peninsula is under threat due to rapid urbanization and ecosystem fragmentation. These changes are largely due to real estate developments and the construction of the Maya Train. In Quintana Roo alone, 15 jaguars have been hit by vehicles, with an additional two in Campeche and two in Yucatan.

One notable casualty was a female jaguar named Reina, who was killed on Federal Highway 307 in Quintana Roo on March 10, 2019. Reina had previously survived a car accident and was found to have bullet wounds upon examination. Her death and the subsequent orphaning of her cub, Chamaco, highlight the challenges jaguars face in the region.

Raul Padilla, a representative from Jaguar Wildlife Center A.C., explained that jaguars are often shot at by ranchers protecting their livestock and dogs. The expansion of real estate development and the fragmentation of ecosystems due to the construction of the Maya Train have increased the risks for jaguars and other wildlife in Southern Mexico, leading to the loss of the Mayan jungle.

Padilla also noted that jaguars face threats from illegal trafficking and vehicle accidents. From 2018 to 2024, the Jaguar Wildlife Center recorded 15 instances of jaguars being hit by cars while trying to cross the road. Some of these jaguars survived and were able to return to their habitats. The majority of these incidents occurred on Highway 307.

One such jaguar was Xen, who was hit by a car on May 11, 2018. Xen managed to escape to the Mayan jungle and was later found in the Xenses Park area. After being examined and found to be in good health, Xen was returned to her habitat. However, she was hit by a car and killed on Highway 307 on September 30, 2022.

Padilla stressed that the increase in vehicle accidents involving jaguars on Highway 307 is not solely due to the Maya Train, but the train's construction has certainly exacerbated the issue. The North and South sections of the train, along with section 6, are causing significant fragmentation of the jaguars' habitat.