Many life on Earth are now endangered. As the human population continues to grow, encroaching on their habitats becomes inevitable. The result is a loss of habitat for many species, which has driven some to near extinction. Many of these species are now targets for conservation. One example are the conservation efforts on for the jaguar to survive.
The jaguar is one of the large cats. The large cats, in general, have been considered to be some of the most majestic creatures in the animal kingdom. The jaguar in the Amazon has a large area. This area stretches from parts of Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname.
While this area might be large, it is threatened by much human activity. Much of that habitat is being lost to farming, cattle ranching and mining operations. Conservationists are searching for ways to have the jaguar survive and keep much of its habitat amidst development.
Several experts from conservation groups have met to discuss the future of the jaguar and its habitat. These groups met in Quito, Ecuador and have representatives from such groups as the Nacional de Pesquisas de Amazonia, WWF, WCS and Panthera, among others. The meeting has aimed to draw a plan revolving around five central themes, according to the WCS Newsroom.
The five themes discussed are landscape and corridor scale conservation; research and monitoring; legislation, policy and administration; conflict management; and education, training and communication. Dr. Rob Wallace, Amazon Landscape Conservation Expert from WCS said that there is importance in working out large landscape scales for jaguar habitat. The effort should be made by indigenous tribes, municipal governments and others that are involved in the conservation effort.
Dr. Emiliano Esterci Ramalho is a leading jaguar researcher and a monitoring coordinator at the Mamiraua Sustainable Development Institute. He said that the meeting has created a Jaguar Conservation Alliance in Brazil. This alliance aims to coordinate jaguar research and conservation efforts.
Also discussed are threats to the jaguar such as hunting and illegal trade, as Science Daily reports. Jaguar population in protected areas have bounced back, but there still remains the threat coming from poaching and the sale of teeth and other body parts. There is a need for constant monitoring and vigilance to ensure that jaguars aren't severely endangered.
There are conservation efforts on for the jaguar to survive. As humans continue to encroach on their habitat, it is necessary to give the large cat additional protection. Also threatened are whales, as climate change continues to affect them.
