Jaguars in the Brazilian Amazon have surprised researchers by adapting to seasonal flooding by living in treetops for months to hunt and raise their young above the floodwaters.
A group of scientists from the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve studied 14 jaguars between 2011 and 2020, discovering that these large cats do not move to drier areas during floods but spend about four months a year solely in trees.
Despite flood cycles becoming more unpredictable in the Amazon, impacting the ecosystem, jaguars are adjusting to survive. However, the changing flood patterns pose a threat to their survival, especially with increasing temperatures accelerating these circumstances.
The study at Mamirauá Reserve highlights the importance of combining local knowledge and scientific methods to understand wildlife behavior, with local residents informing scientists about the jaguars’ behavior during flooding. Conservation reserves like Mamirauá support both humans and animals to thrive together.
To help the Amazon’s jaguars, supporting conservation efforts, avoiding deforestation-related products, and spreading awareness about these amazing creatures are essential. These actions can aid jaguars in their struggle for survival as the planet warms up.
