The results of the third jaguar census in Mexico are encouraging

The first results of the third jaguar census in Mexico are encouraging, since in the majority of the 24 sites analyzed, in 19 states of the country, the population of the largest feline in America remains stable or has increased, In most places there are more jaguars said Gerardo Ceballos González, leader of the National Alliance for Jaguar Conservation.

At a press conference, he announced that the final results of this census will be announced in February 2025, since all sampling data ends in December. At this time the x-ray is positivewhich is why it was estimated that the number of felines – 4,800 registered in the previous census in 2018 – will grow slightly, since in the areas analyzed there has been an increase in the species, for example in Calakmul it went from three felines in 2018 to eight in 2024 and in Sinaloa there were three or four and now there are between five or six.

Ceballos highlighted that Mexico is a pioneer in jaguar studies. This third census was carried out in 19 states of the country where there are corridors for this species, including Tabasco with the Wanha Biosphere Reserve and Campeche with the Balam Kin Flora and Fauna Protection Area. It involved an analysis of 24 sites – 10 more than the first census carried out in 2010 – 12 of which belong to Protected Natural Areas or Areas Voluntarily Designated for Conservation. 40 camera traps were placed per site for 90 days and more than 50 thousand photos were obtained.

For his part, the head of the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp), Humberto Peña Fuentes, pointed out the importance of the jaguar, considered an umbrella species, since its presence implies that there are prey, and this happens when the conditions of the ecosystem are good, in other words, If there are jaguars, there are good conditions for biodiversity.he said.