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

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Title: Sixty Degrees of Solutions: Field Techniques for Human–Jaguar Coexistence.
Authors: Polisar, John1,2,3,4 (AUTHOR) polisarejr@gmail.com, Hoogesteijn, Rafael2,5 (AUTHOR), Hoogesteijn, Almira3,6 (AUTHOR), Viana, Diego Francis Passos4,7 (AUTHOR), Chinchilla Valdiviezo, Skarleth Johana5,8 (AUTHOR), Valderrama Vásquez, Carlos6,9 (AUTHOR), Devlin, Allison Loretta2,7 (AUTHOR), Arias Herrera, Ranni José8,10 (AUTHOR), Babola, Margaux9,11 (AUTHOR), Bauer, Frederick10,12 (AUTHOR), Cassaigne Guasco, Ivonne11,13 (AUTHOR), Chang, Chia Yu2,12,14 (AUTHOR), Corrales Gutiérrez, Daniel2,13 (AUTHOR), De la Torre, J. Antonio14,15 (AUTHOR), Del Toro-Orozco, Wezddy15,16,17 (AUTHOR), Kotz, Aline16,18 (AUTHOR), Larsen, Duston17,19 (AUTHOR), Lodeiro Ocampo, Nicolás18,20 (AUTHOR), Monzón, Daniel15,19 (AUTHOR), Morante Ascanio, Carmen Angélica10,20,21 (AUTHOR)
Source: Animals (2076-2615). May2025, Vol. 15 Issue 9, p1247. 27p.
Subject Terms: *LIVESTOCK losses, *LATITUDE, *BIODIVERSITY, *CONFORMANCE testing, WESTERN countries
Abstract: Simple Summary: The jaguar spans about 7,000,000 km2 across the Americas. Livestock predation by jaguars often leads to retaliatory killings, but methods to reduce the frequency of these events have been developed and tested. We surveyed 248 livestock operations from northern Mexico to Argentina and evaluated the success of anti-depredation strategies implemented across 194 of those operations. These strategies necessitated varying levels of investment, but all achieved a notable reduction in depredation and, in most cases, were cost-effective. Anti-depredation strategies are effective, can be adapted to local needs, and merit wider application. The current range of the jaguar (Panthera onca) spans sixty degrees of latitude across eighteen countries in the Western Hemisphere and covers approximately 7,000,000 km2. 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Academic Search Index
Description
Abstract:Simple Summary: The jaguar spans about 7,000,000 km2 across the Americas. Livestock predation by jaguars often leads to retaliatory killings, but methods to reduce the frequency of these events have been developed and tested. We surveyed 248 livestock operations from northern Mexico to Argentina and evaluated the success of anti-depredation strategies implemented across 194 of those operations. These strategies necessitated varying levels of investment, but all achieved a notable reduction in depredation and, in most cases, were cost-effective. Anti-depredation strategies are effective, can be adapted to local needs, and merit wider application. The current range of the jaguar (Panthera onca) spans sixty degrees of latitude across eighteen countries in the Western Hemisphere and covers approximately 7,000,000 km2. 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:20762615
DOI:10.3390/ani15091247