In the “El Zapotal” Conservation Area, Yucatán, the jaguar is the boss. The community and the non-governmental organization Pronatura have joined forces to guarantee its conservation and harmonious coexistence between humans and felines.
In the framework of International Jaguar Day, which is commemorated every November 29, Anuar Hernández, responsible for the Conservation Program for Felines and their prey at Pronatura Peninsula de Yucatán, explains that this species is in a constant struggle for its survival due to threats such as the change in land use for monocultures real estate developments, and infrastructure works such as the Maya Train, but the community and activists have found the appropriate strategies so that in “El Zapotal” they have a refuge.
In the reserve and its surroundings, Pronatura works on four lines of action so that the jaguars are safe and the people nearby do not have conflicts with their presence:
- Habitat management,
- Coexistence between humans and felines,
- Social participation
- Investigation and research.
This work, which is carried out in the municipality of Tizimín, aims to conserve the forest and improve sites that have been deforested. It also works hand in hand with ranchers whose ranches have suffered losses due to predation.
Although it is very difficult to make a measurement due to the dynamics of the felines, it is estimated that between 200 and 350 jaguars currently live in the state of Yucatán, distributed mainly in the municipalities of Hunucmá, Celestún, Sisal, Chuburná Puerto, the Puuc State Biocultural Reserve, Tekax, Valladolid, El Cuyo, and Dzilam de Bravo.
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