Jaguars are the largest cat in the Americas, facing threats from habitat fragmentation, rancher retaliatory killing, and the illegal wildlife trade.
Jaguars killed in retaliation die from shooting, snaring, or poisoning, all of which cause prolonged suffering. Fragmented habitat forces jaguars into increasingly frequent contact with humans and livestock, escalating conflict. Cubs orphaned by retaliatory killing rarely survive. The collapse of jaguar habitat connectivity creates isolated populations vulnerable to inbreeding and local extinction.