Sporadically, over the last year, we have provided the extended Londolozi family with updates on a groundbreaking conservation project happening in South America. The initiative is called Projeto Onçafari and is based in the Pantanal area of Brazil. In an attempt to save the declining Jaguar population an ambitious project started two years ago to try adding value to the largest cat in the Americas.
The goal was, and still is, to habituate a wild Jaguar population to vehicles. Using an adapted Londolozi model, the Jaguar team is attempting to relax the Jaguars enough to open up an eco-tourism industry. It is hoped that we can help to break down the negative stigma attached to this gorgeous cat. We will attempt to break down the thought that cattle ranching and Jaguar conservation cannot coexist.
A male Jaguar, known by the project as Fantasma, is believed to be the dominant male of the area. Incredibly, he is the same size as a lioness.
We hope to prove that the Jaguar is worth more alive, than dead.
The sunsets over s small farm household in the Pantanal
Reaching far beyond the Jaguar, it is hoped that by conserving this apex predator we will be making huge strides towards conserving large tracts of the Pantanal: the largest wetland in the world. We want to kick start a movement of eco-tourism and conservation in Brazil. Many years ago John Varty set out to relax leopards to vehicles. Thanks to his incredible work, patience and dedication, Londolozi is now blessed with possibly the greatest leopard viewing in the world. It is now possible to sit and watch a leopard live a normal wild life, completely unfazed by the humans who gaze at her beauty. Just take a look at this video about the Leopards of Londolozi:
We believe the same is possible in Brazil with the Jaguar!
Quite possibly the oldest female Jaguar in the area. Known as Yara, we believe that this female has the potential to be as important to the habituation project as the Mother Leopard was to Londolozi
In February this year I left Londolozi to assist the Projeto Onçafari. I believe in their mission and wanted to help this passionate team to realize a dream. It is a long-term goal, but already in a short period of time, the team here has made incredible strides. I have been based in Brazil for just over a month and have already seen 9 different Jaguars. I have watched a female Jaguar kill a Giant Anteater and have seen two Jaguars playing in a tree!
So, here I sit on the forefront of truly groundbreaking work. There is so much that we simply do not know about the Jaguar. With every day we are learning something new. Although, at first glance, it may look like a leopard, it behaves completely differently. This is a unique cat.
An inquisitive young male Jaguar looks towards the car
Our work hopes to not only expose the world to this magnificent cat, but hopes to continually learn and document what we see. One of the methods we will use to document our projects achievements and newfound knowledge is to utilize a blog platform. We have just launched the project blog in the last few days. Whilst still in it’s infancy, I am sure that the faithful Londolozi blog-community will love it. I hope that it will become a perfect addition to the already superb reading that the Londolozi blog has become.
We invite you to jump on board and join us as we learn and explore. We invite you to come and have a look at ‘Life in the Land of the Jaguar’
The Jaguar Habituation team
How to follow us:
Facebook
English: http://www.facebook.com/OncafariJaguarProject
Portuguese: https://www.facebook.com/Projetooncafari?ref=ts&fref=ts
Blog
English: http://oncafarijaguarproject.wordpress.com/
Portuguese: http://projetooncafari.wordpress.com/
To whom this may be read by. Please can you “unconfuse” me. Are there now Jaguars in Londolozi, because looking at the video at the top of this blog there are SA leopards & Jaguars??? Is this true, because I know that the Varty’s are into breeding tigers & the voice on here sounded like David???
I look forward to seeing your reply
Thanks
Hi Wendy,
There are no Jaguars in South Africa. These jaguars are being filmed and photographed by an ex-ranger of Londolozi, Adam Bannister in South America. The initiative is called Projeto Onçafari and is based in the Pantanal area of Brazil.
Hope you are well!
Regards,
Kate
Congratulations Adam, you well be great doing this and it will work. Will there be a blog direct from there in the future.
Good work.
Thanks Anne. Yes indeed there already is one. Follow this link http://oncafarijaguarproject.wordpress.com/
Great work Ad