Jaguars are one of Belize's most elusive, yet recognizable animals. As apex predators, jaguars generally get their choice of prey when in the wild, but every once in a while, a jaguar comes across a farm, and learns that it can get an easy meal. When left to feed on livestock for long enough, some jaguars may have trouble reverting back to hunting, and can need to be relocated or rehabilitated.
And tonight, that's what's happening to a jaguar caught on a farm in the Northern Lagoon area. Personnel from the Forest Department and the Belize Zoo went out to the farm to extract the jaguar, and we were there to document the process. Here's what the Forest Department's Jaguar Officer had to say about this rare event...
Shanelly Carillo, Jaguar Officer - Forest Department
"These situations aren't something very common and each situation is very unique, so there are different things that needs to be considered. In this situation what we tried to do one of the most important things is try to get the animal out of the area as soon as possible, just to reduce the stress and the possibility of any harm coming to the animal. As well we do not want it to stay in the farm with all the animals around. So that's the most important thing for extractions, but it's not something that's very common."
"There are different things happening. It has to do with some farmers take things into their own hands, but as well we do not get reports of it sometimes. That is very important and we are trying to improve that to make sure that farmers know that there are people that they can call for these issues and that they can get help. So it's not something that they have to fight this on their own."
Our team just got back from Northern Lagoon an hour ago, and tomorrow, we'll give you more details about the jaguar's relocation and what exactly is going to happen to it.
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