Conservation Group Mates Wild and Captive Jaguar
2020-11-26
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1A project in Argentina is using a new model in animal conservation to grow the jaguar population in the country's northern forests.
2The conservation group Rewilding Argentina brought together a wild jaguar and a captive one for mating.
3It is believed to be the first attempt of its kind.
4Tania is the name of the female.
5She was raised in a zoo. The male is called Qaramta.
6Their relationship began last year in Argentina's Impenetrable National Park.
7Almost all jaguars have disappeared from the area.
8But in late 2019, a jaguar pawprint was found in a dry riverbed.
9Project workers set up observation cameras and soon saw an adult male.
10During a brief capture, they attached an electronic tracking device to the cat.
11Then Tania, a mother already, was brought in on the job.
12She was placed in a special containment area at the park.
13Over nine months, the jaguars developed a connection although physically separated by a fence.
14They moved closer to each other as the days passed.
15They began to nuzzle through the fence and exchange peaceful cat calls.
16The behavior signaled that the two jaguars likely would not fight.
17So, Qaramta was let into Tania's area when she was ready for mating.
18Tania and Qaramta spent a little less than a week together sleeping and playing and cleaning themselves.
19A hopeful yet worried group of researchers watched them, at least some of the time.
20The project's field director, Marisi Lopez, said the team could not confirm mating happened because the animals went deep into the forest.
21But there seemed to be, she said, "very good chemistry between them."
22Qaramta has returned to life on the other side of the fence.
23But he visits Tania almost every night.
24The project plans to fully reunite the cats once Tania is again ready to mate.
25Until then, she is being watched for signs of pregnancy.
26Rewilding Argentina has bred captive jaguars in nearby Ibera National Park.
27They have also bred giant anteaters and bare-faced curassows.
28Howard Quigley is Jaguar Program director for Panthera, an international wild cat conservation organization.
29He said usually the biggest issue is whether the animals will get along.
30"In zoos it's not uncommon to have a female or male killed in these encounters," he said.
31But it appears that was not an issue for Tania and Qaramta.
32"Hopefully, they now have a pregnant female who can be used for the next step," he said.
33Mating between captive and wild animals is new to the conservation field.
34But, Rewilding Argentina's conservation director, Sebastian di Martino, says more traditional methods are not enough.
35"You have to go a step further and bring back what's been lost. It's a somewhat desperate move" but there are really no other choices, he said.
36"We do this or we lose the jaguar."
37In a worst-case situation, he said, Qaramta could be caught by hunters before he can get Tania pregnant.
38In the best situation, the two animals will produce young.
39Jaguars are the largest cat in the Americas.
40They have lost over half their traditional living areas.
41In Argentina's northern Chaco area, which is home to Impenetrable National Park, just 20 are thought to exist.
42I'm Alice Bryant.
1A project in Argentina is using a new model in animal conservation to grow the jaguar population in the country's northern forests. The conservation group Rewilding Argentina brought together a wild jaguar and a captive one for mating. 2It is believed to be the first attempt of its kind. 3Tania is the name of the female. She was raised in a zoo. The male is called Qaramta. Their relationship began last year in Argentina's Impenetrable National Park. 4Almost all jaguars have disappeared from the area. But in late 2019, a jaguar pawprint was found in a dry riverbed. Project workers set up observation cameras and soon saw an adult male. During a brief capture, they attached an electronic tracking device to the cat. 5Then Tania, a mother already, was brought in on the job. She was placed in a special containment area at the park. 6Over nine months, the jaguars developed a connection although physically separated by a fence. They moved closer to each other as the days passed. They began to nuzzle through the fence and exchange peaceful cat calls. 7The behavior signaled that the two jaguars likely would not fight. So, Qaramta was let into Tania's area when she was ready for mating. 8Tania and Qaramta spent a little less than a week together sleeping and playing and cleaning themselves. A hopeful yet worried group of researchers watched them, at least some of the time. 9The project's field director, Marisi Lopez, said the team could not confirm mating happened because the animals went deep into the forest. But there seemed to be, she said, "very good chemistry between them." 10Qaramta has returned to life on the other side of the fence. But he visits Tania almost every night. The project plans to fully reunite the cats once Tania is again ready to mate. Until then, she is being watched for signs of pregnancy. 11Rewilding Argentina has bred captive jaguars in nearby Ibera National Park. They have also bred giant anteaters and bare-faced curassows. 12'Desperate move' 13Howard Quigley is Jaguar Program director for Panthera, an international wild cat conservation organization. He said usually the biggest issue is whether the animals will get along. "In zoos it's not uncommon to have a female or male killed in these encounters," he said. 14But it appears that was not an issue for Tania and Qaramta. 15"Hopefully, they now have a pregnant female who can be used for the next step," he said. 16Mating between captive and wild animals is new to the conservation field. But, Rewilding Argentina's conservation director, Sebastian di Martino, says more traditional methods are not enough. 17"You have to go a step further and bring back what's been lost. It's a somewhat desperate move" but there are really no other choices, he said. "We do this or we lose the jaguar." 18In a worst-case situation, he said, Qaramta could be caught by hunters before he can get Tania pregnant. In the best situation, the two animals will produce young. 19Jaguars are the largest cat in the Americas. They have lost over half their traditional living areas. In Argentina's northern Chaco area, which is home to Impenetrable National Park, just 20 are thought to exist. 20I'm Alice Bryant. 21Reuters news agency reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 22________________________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24conservation - n. the protection of animals, plants, and natural resources 25pawprint - n. the impression left by a clawed animal's foot 26nuzzle - v. to gently push or rub your nose or face against (someone or something) to show affection 27encounter - n. a meeting that is not planned or expected 28desperate - adj. done with all of your strength or energy and with little hope of succeeding