Sixty Degrees of Solutions: Field Techniques for Human–Jaguar Coexistence

The current range of the jaguar (<i>Panthera onca</i>) spans sixty degrees of latitude across eighteen countries in the Western Hemisphere and covers approximately 7,000,000 km<sup>2</sup>. Throughout this geographical breadth, jaguars represent an essential component of nati...

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Main Authors: John Polisar, Rafael Hoogesteijn, Almira Hoogesteijn, Diego Francis Passos Viana, Skarleth Johana Chinchilla Valdiviezo, Carlos Valderrama Vásquez, Allison Loretta Devlin, Ranni José Arias Herrera, Margaux Babola, Frederick Bauer, Ivonne Cassaigne Guasco, Chia Yu Chang, Daniel Corrales Gutiérrez, J. Antonio De la Torre, Wezddy Del Toro-Orozco, Aline Kotz, Duston Larsen, Nicolás Lodeiro Ocampo, Daniel Monzón, Carmen Angélica Morante Ascanio, Ricardo Daniel Ortiz-Hoyos, Pablo Gastón Perovic, Grasiela Edith de Oliviero Porfirio, María Fernanda Puerto Carrillo, Paul Raad, Thiago Reginato, Yina Paola Serna, Claudio Sillero-Zubiri, Laura Villalba, Armand Ziller
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/9/1247
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author John Polisar
Rafael Hoogesteijn
Almira Hoogesteijn
Diego Francis Passos Viana
Skarleth Johana Chinchilla Valdiviezo
Carlos Valderrama Vásquez
Allison Loretta Devlin
Ranni José Arias Herrera
Margaux Babola
Frederick Bauer
Ivonne Cassaigne Guasco
Chia Yu Chang
Daniel Corrales Gutiérrez
J. Antonio De la Torre
Wezddy Del Toro-Orozco
Aline Kotz
Duston Larsen
Nicolás Lodeiro Ocampo
Daniel Monzón
Carmen Angélica Morante Ascanio
Ricardo Daniel Ortiz-Hoyos
Pablo Gastón Perovic
Grasiela Edith de Oliviero Porfirio
María Fernanda Puerto Carrillo
Paul Raad
Thiago Reginato
Yina Paola Serna
Claudio Sillero-Zubiri
Laura Villalba
Armand Ziller
author_facet John Polisar
Rafael Hoogesteijn
Almira Hoogesteijn
Diego Francis Passos Viana
Skarleth Johana Chinchilla Valdiviezo
Carlos Valderrama Vásquez
Allison Loretta Devlin
Ranni José Arias Herrera
Margaux Babola
Frederick Bauer
Ivonne Cassaigne Guasco
Chia Yu Chang
Daniel Corrales Gutiérrez
J. Antonio De la Torre
Wezddy Del Toro-Orozco
Aline Kotz
Duston Larsen
Nicolás Lodeiro Ocampo
Daniel Monzón
Carmen Angélica Morante Ascanio
Ricardo Daniel Ortiz-Hoyos
Pablo Gastón Perovic
Grasiela Edith de Oliviero Porfirio
María Fernanda Puerto Carrillo
Paul Raad
Thiago Reginato
Yina Paola Serna
Claudio Sillero-Zubiri
Laura Villalba
Armand Ziller
author_sort John Polisar
collection DOAJ
description The current range of the jaguar (<i>Panthera onca</i>) spans sixty degrees of latitude across eighteen countries in the Western Hemisphere and covers approximately 7,000,000 km<sup>2</sup>. Throughout this geographical breadth, jaguars represent an essential component of native biological diversity, but conflict revolving around real and perceived jaguar depredation on livestock is a factor in jaguar mortality. We developed a structured questionnaire to evaluate the effectiveness of anti-depredation strategies from northern Mexico to Argentina, collecting data from 11 countries and 248 livestock operations, 194 with efficacy metrics, and 24 with benefit–cost ratios (value of the livestock losses averted/cost of the intervention). Using coarse categories, 11 intervention types were tested. Techniques effectively reducing livestock losses were documented across the entire livestock operation size (2–130,000 ha, 5–30,000 head) and biome spectrum. While the techniques varied in complexity and required levels of investment, successful reductions in depredation were achieved at all levels. We conclude that anti-depredation strategies are highly effective, and when benefits are evaluated, they surpass costs, sometimes substantially. Given the proven efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the techniques described in this paper, we advocate for broader application across the species range to increase tolerance towards jaguars and a more effective human–jaguar coexistence.
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spelling doaj-art-edc8d8b9dea948cf891f57f4e9ecee6d2025-08-20T03:52:57ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-04-01159124710.3390/ani15091247Sixty Degrees of Solutions: Field Techniques for Human–Jaguar CoexistenceJohn Polisar0Rafael Hoogesteijn1Almira Hoogesteijn2Diego Francis Passos Viana3Skarleth Johana Chinchilla Valdiviezo4Carlos Valderrama Vásquez5Allison Loretta Devlin6Ranni José Arias Herrera7Margaux Babola8Frederick Bauer9Ivonne Cassaigne Guasco10Chia Yu Chang11Daniel Corrales Gutiérrez12J. Antonio De la Torre13Wezddy Del Toro-Orozco14Aline Kotz15Duston Larsen16Nicolás Lodeiro Ocampo17Daniel Monzón18Carmen Angélica Morante Ascanio19Ricardo Daniel Ortiz-Hoyos20Pablo Gastón Perovic21Grasiela Edith de Oliviero Porfirio22María Fernanda Puerto Carrillo23Paul Raad24Thiago Reginato25Yina Paola Serna26Claudio Sillero-Zubiri27Laura Villalba28Armand Ziller29Center for Biodiversity, Department of Environment and Development, Zamorano University Pan-American Agricultural School, Tegucigalpa P.O. Box 93, HondurasPanthera, New York, NY 10018, USAHuman Ecology Department, Merida Unit, Cinvestav, Ciudad de México 97310, MexicoInstituto Homem Pantaneiro—IHP, Gestor do Programa Felinos Pantaneiros, Corumbá 79300-010, MS, BrazilCenter for Biodiversity, Zamorano University, Tegucigalpa P.O. Box 93, HondurasWebConserva, Bogotá 111211, ColombiaPanthera, New York, NY 10018, USADesarrollo Forestal Sustentable (DEFORSA), San Carlos 2201, Cojedes, VenezuelaHuman Initiatives for Animals (HISA), French Office for Biodiversity, Cayenne 97300, French Guiana, FranceWildlife Conservation Society—Paraguay, Asunción 1208, ParaguayPrimero Conservation, Rancho la Herradura, México City 04930, MexicoPanthera, New York, NY 10018, USAPanthera, New York, NY 10018, USAPrograma Jaguares de la Selva Maya—Bioconciencia A.C., México City 10400, MexicoEcology and Conservation of Amazon Felids Research Group, Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, Tefé 69552-225, AM, BrazilProjeto Onças do Iguaçu-Instituto Pró Carnívoros, Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Foz do Iguaçu 85859-899, PR, BrazilIntegrated Ranch, Tourism, and Wildlife Refuge Operation—San Miguelito, Bolivian Chaco/Chiquitania, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, BoliviaFundación Red Yaguareté, Cuenca, 1539 PB4, Buenos Aires CP 1406, ArgentinaPrograma Jaguares de la Selva Maya—Bioconciencia A.C., México City 10400, MexicoDesarrollo Forestal Sustentable (DEFORSA), San Carlos 2201, Cojedes, VenezuelaPanthera, New York, NY 10018, USAAdministración de Parques Nacionales—Dirección Regional Noroeste, Salta 4400, ArgentinaInstituto Homem Pantaneiro—IHP, Gestor do Programa Felinos Pantaneiros, Corumbá 79300-010, MS, BrazilInstituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC) y Proyecto Sebraba, Altos de Pipe, San Antonio de los Altos 1204, Estado Miranda, VenezuelaFazenda Ipiranga, Estr. Transpantaneira, KM-10-Zona Rural, Poconé 78175-006, MT, BrazilProjeto Onças do Iguaçu-Instituto Pró Carnívoros, Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Foz do Iguaçu 85859-899, PR, BrazilPanthera, New York, NY 10018, USAWildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 2JD, UKWildlife Conservation Society—Paraguay, Asunción 1208, ParaguayHuman Initiatives for Animals (HISA), French Office for Biodiversity, Cayenne 97300, French Guiana, FranceThe current range of the jaguar (<i>Panthera onca</i>) spans sixty degrees of latitude across eighteen countries in the Western Hemisphere and covers approximately 7,000,000 km<sup>2</sup>. Throughout this geographical breadth, jaguars represent an essential component of native biological diversity, but conflict revolving around real and perceived jaguar depredation on livestock is a factor in jaguar mortality. We developed a structured questionnaire to evaluate the effectiveness of anti-depredation strategies from northern Mexico to Argentina, collecting data from 11 countries and 248 livestock operations, 194 with efficacy metrics, and 24 with benefit–cost ratios (value of the livestock losses averted/cost of the intervention). Using coarse categories, 11 intervention types were tested. Techniques effectively reducing livestock losses were documented across the entire livestock operation size (2–130,000 ha, 5–30,000 head) and biome spectrum. While the techniques varied in complexity and required levels of investment, successful reductions in depredation were achieved at all levels. We conclude that anti-depredation strategies are highly effective, and when benefits are evaluated, they surpass costs, sometimes substantially. Given the proven efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the techniques described in this paper, we advocate for broader application across the species range to increase tolerance towards jaguars and a more effective human–jaguar coexistence.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/9/1247jaguarsdepredationhuman–jaguar coexistenceanti-depredation strategiescarnivore conservationcarnivores
spellingShingle John Polisar
Rafael Hoogesteijn
Almira Hoogesteijn
Diego Francis Passos Viana
Skarleth Johana Chinchilla Valdiviezo
Carlos Valderrama Vásquez
Allison Loretta Devlin
Ranni José Arias Herrera
Margaux Babola
Frederick Bauer
Ivonne Cassaigne Guasco
Chia Yu Chang
Daniel Corrales Gutiérrez
J. Antonio De la Torre
Wezddy Del Toro-Orozco
Aline Kotz
Duston Larsen
Nicolás Lodeiro Ocampo
Daniel Monzón
Carmen Angélica Morante Ascanio
Ricardo Daniel Ortiz-Hoyos
Pablo Gastón Perovic
Grasiela Edith de Oliviero Porfirio
María Fernanda Puerto Carrillo
Paul Raad
Thiago Reginato
Yina Paola Serna
Claudio Sillero-Zubiri
Laura Villalba
Armand Ziller
Sixty Degrees of Solutions: Field Techniques for Human–Jaguar Coexistence
Animals
jaguars
depredation
human–jaguar coexistence
anti-depredation strategies
carnivore conservation
carnivores
title Sixty Degrees of Solutions: Field Techniques for Human–Jaguar Coexistence
title_full Sixty Degrees of Solutions: Field Techniques for Human–Jaguar Coexistence
title_fullStr Sixty Degrees of Solutions: Field Techniques for Human–Jaguar Coexistence
title_full_unstemmed Sixty Degrees of Solutions: Field Techniques for Human–Jaguar Coexistence
title_short Sixty Degrees of Solutions: Field Techniques for Human–Jaguar Coexistence
title_sort sixty degrees of solutions field techniques for human jaguar coexistence
topic jaguars
depredation
human–jaguar coexistence
anti-depredation strategies
carnivore conservation
carnivores
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/9/1247
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