Protecting Jaguars in Costa Rica
Project Animals
Jaguar
Jaguars are the third largest of the “big cats”, a group that also includes tigers, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and cougars. Most have spotted fur, but about 10% are an all-black color morph commonly referred to as black panthers. Jaguars are the only big cats found in the Americas, where their range extends from the Southwestern United States to as far south as Argentina. They are apex predators that prefer to feed on mammals, but will opportunistically feed on reptiles when available. Their hunting style is unique: they use their powerful jaws to pierce the skulls of their prey, causing death almost instantly upon impact.
Meet the Team!
International Conservation Fund of Canada
OSA CONSERVATION
Your adoption will help Earth Rangers support the International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC) and Osa Conservation as they work to protect Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. This area is one of the most biologically rich ecosystems on the planet, home to 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity while covering less than 0.001% of its surface area. But in spite of its importance, the area is under threat, with the destruction of old growth rainforests and increasing illegal poaching putting species like the jaguar at risk. ICFC and Osa Conservation are helping local communities both monitor camera traps for signs of hunting, and restore the biological corridors of the region’s fragmented forests, helping maintain its incredible biodiversity for years to come.
