The spots gave it away. Just like a human fingerprint, the rosette pattern on each jaguar is unique, so researchers knew they had a new animal on their hands after reviewing images captured by a remote camera in southern Arizona.
The University of Arizona Center for Wild Cat Research and Conservation says he is the fifth big cat spotted in the area in the past 15 years after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. The animal was captured on camera while visiting a lake in November, and its distinctive spots set it apart from previous sightings.
“We’re very excited,” Susan Malusa, the center’s jaguar and ocelot project manager, said during an interview Thursday. “This shows that this large number of jaguars keep coming here because they are finding what they need.”
The team is now collecting samples of droppings to conduct genetic analysis and determine the sex and other details about the new jaguar, including what it likes to eat. The list can include everything from skunks and javelinas to small deer.
As an indicator species, Malusa said the continued presence of big cats in the area indicates a healthy environment but climate change and border barriers could threaten migration corridors. She explained that rising temperatures and major drought increase the urgency to ensure jaguars’ connection to their historic range in Arizona.
More than 99% of the jaguar population is found in Central and South America, and a few male jaguars spotted in the United States are believed to have spread from core populations in Mexico, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Officials said jaguar breeding in the United States has not been documented for more than 100 years.
Federal biologists listed the primary threats to the endangered species as habitat loss and animal fragmentation along with targeting of animals for trophies and illegal trade.
The Fish and Wildlife Service issued a final rule in 2024, revising designated habitat for tigers in response to a legal challenge. The area was reduced to about 1,000 square miles (2,590 square km) in Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise counties in Arizona.
Malusa said recent detection data supports findings that the jaguar appears every few years, with its movement often linked to water availability. When food and water are available, movement is less.
In the case of Jaguar No. 5, she said it was remarkable that the cat kept returning to the area over a 10-day period. Otherwise, the animals are described as completely elusive.
“That’s the message, that this species is recovering,” Malusa said. “We want people to know that and that we still have a chance to make it right and keep these lanes open.”
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