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The jaguar is an elusive animal to find in the wild. It prefers to keep to itself in sheltered places. The best place to spot this magnificent creature is in the jungles of Suriname. If you are lucky enough to see a jaguar in it’s natural environment, the impression will last a lifetime. It’s tawny coat shines like freshly coated paint. The golden hue of the jaguar becomes a brilliant red with the setting of the sun. It’s chest, cheek and belly become a soft tan hue. This splash of color is offset by an irregular pattern of black markings across the animal’s body.
The native inhabitants of the Suriname area referred to the jaguar as a God, so struck were they with the jungle cat. They saw in it’s spotted coat the star covered sky at night. It was, therefore, worshipped and held as being sacred.
The male jaguar is normally six feet long. He weighs around two hundred and fifty pounds. This weight is evenly distributed throughout a muscular neck and shoulders, a barrel like body and short, stout legs. It’s powerful paws also threaten to pack a powerful punch.
While it is a rare thing to actually see a jaguar, it’s signs around the Suriname countryside are readily evident. Paw prints can be seen on the sands, beaches and paths. Tree trunks are scratched as the animal marks out it’s territory. Jaguars also scratch their claws against the trunks of trees to sharpen them. Jaguars also leave a sign of their presence with scent markings and droppings. The jaguar will usually stake an area from fifteen to forty square miles of dense jungle.
The jaguar is at home in the water. As well as enjoying rollicking in the water, the big cat relies upon the waters for it’s food – fish. The jaguar will paddle out to the best fishing spot. He will hold his head, spine and tail above the water. The jaguar is an excellent swimmer. In fact, they swim so fast that they make bow waves. The jaguar will then emerge from the river close to an area that is abundant in fish. After shaking the water off his body he will crouch on a log overhanging the river. He will focus his steely gaze on the surface of the water. Then, in an instant, his razor sharp claw will swoop down and snatch his prey from the water. The power of such swoops are such that the massive aitkainte (leatherback turtle) has been known to have been thrown 13 feet ( four meters) through the air.
The jaguar, however, does not just hunt in the water. He is also an expert hunter on the land and in the trees. When climbing trees his claws act like the spikes on a mountaineer’s shoes. Yet when stalking prey on land the claws are able to retract so that he is walking on the soft padding of his paws. When stalking it’s prey the jaguar is totally focused. Cautiously he will inch towards his target, his eyes fixed on his intended meal. He will stand motionless waiting for the perfect time to strike. When he does make his move it will be swift and deadly.
Fortunately for us, humans are rarely on the menu for the jaguar. The animal will often follow people as evidenced by paw prints. But, more often than not he will soon disappear into the undergrowth of the jungle. The real threat is actually reversed. Like so many other animals on this planet, the jaguar is under threat from man. Because of the very real threat of extinction, the commercial trade in jaguars is now illegal. Illegal poaching, however, remains a thriving enterprise. The voracious demand for spotted cat fur coats has fuelled a vicious industry which sees poachers roaming the Amazonian forests by night, blinding jaguars with their high powered flash lights and then shooting the animal in the head. Some 6,000 jaguars are killed in this manner every year.
The jaguar is still, however, to be found in good number in Suriname. Hopefully the crackdown on poachers will ensure it stays that way. It would, indeed, be a shame to lose the magnificent, elusive jungle cat.
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