Miguel Monteiro - Research

ResearchGate

The jaguar - the third largest wild cat in the world and the largest of the Americas. The apex predator across its range, they excel at hunting and are natural-born tree climbers and swimmers, representing the epitome of evolutionary adaptation. Worshipped by many native cultures, the jaguar is rooted in cultural symbolism. Imperilled by habitat loss, persecution, depletion of its prey base and, more recently, the wildlife trade for Asian markets, this iconic species is in dire need of conservation action.

Jaguar captured by Mamirauá Institute's research team. The animal was evaluated, measured and weighed. Blood samples were taken for epidemiological analysis. A GPS radiocollar was fitted to track the animal's movements and ecology.

This black jaguar is a male and was named 'Raí'. He weighed 61 kg.

This male jaguar weighed 52 kg and was named 'Xangô'. Here he is waking up after sedation and moments after disappeared back into the forest. We were able to track his movements through the GPS signal emitted from his radiocollar.

The antenna used to track the radio signal also emitted from the radiocollar. This technique can be used to home in on the animal in real time.

Collaborating with the local communities to understand drivers of human-jaguar conflict. Investigating their perceptions and attitudes towards jaguars will enable us to promote alternatives and incentivize coexistence.

The floodplain forests of Mamirauá, our main study area in the central Amazon.

Camera-traps are also an important tool in research. They allow us to investigate the ecology, activity patterns and densities of jaguars in their habitat, as well as a multitude of other information.