Tuesday, 09 March 2010 08:57

How many jaguars there in Panama? Where in living? A new ecological project hopes to answer these questions with certainty Panama has proposed to protect jaguars. A plan to keep trying to determine the population distribution, create a genetic corridor and educate the population about the importance of these species in their natural environment.

The huge cat, considered the top predators of tropical forests face the risk of disappearing.

 

The loss of habitat, hunting felines themselves and the animals that feed has become the biggest stumbling block to preserve said Rafael Samudio, director of Mammalogists Society of Panama (SOMASPA).

According Panthera, an international NGO dedicated to the conservation of cats, over 40 per cent of forest that housed the species has declined since early last century.

 

WHERE ARE THE JAGUARS?

In America its range extends from the southwestern U.S. to northern Argentina.

 

Are there cats in Central or disappeared? Here in Panama even register his presence. The animals are distributed throughout the Caribbean to Panama, proposed area to become the corridor for jaguars in the country, said Melva Olmos, feline conservation specialist. There are also some sites in the Pacific densities.

Now SOMASPA, Panthera and the National Environmental Authority (ANAM) join forces to save the habitat of the world's largest cat, trying to create a corridor for species and genetic blueprint for its preservation.

 

Melanie Castillo Him, general manager, responsible for the SFDA, said the plan aims to explore conservation measures applicable in the areas of distribution of jaguar populations, especially those that connect to protected areas.

 

Studies of jaguars in the country dating from 2000. The initial purpose was to collect information to enhance the jaguar conservation strategies.

 

From 2005 SOMASPA, ANAM, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) countries and international organizations implemented camera-trap systems to monitor the existence of jaguars and their prey. The results were immediate. Findings of individuals in Santa Fe, Veraguas, Barro Colorado Island in Panama and Chagres confirmed the existence of tigers.

 

THE PROBLEM

Since ancient times man has perceived as enemies of jaguars. The fear inspired by his enormous size, teeth and claws carried man to exterminate on several occasions. But quite the opposite of what we think, the cats are afraid of humans, said Olmos.

 Although humans are not within the jaguar prey perception has not changed much. Clashes between both are given at the time that animals feel threatened specialist warns.

 

Despite this, conflicts between humans and jaguars. do not stop. Farmers do not stop when he spotted a copy close to his previous. For these animals pose a threat to develop livestock.

 

And is that the food shortage of cats, wild pig, Zain and Corsican deer-hunt has forced the calves to survive. The same man through hunting prey of cats has caused a reduction of them, forcing the animals to find new diets as a calf, horse and rabbit painted.

This is a conflict that provided SOMASPA within the conservation plan. The NGO promotes develop training workshops to address the problem.