Jaguars

Worshipped as a god in pre-Columbian civilizations, the jaguar is the symbol of the Central American jungle. Panthera onca was once especially abundant in the dense forests, coastal mangroves, and lowland savannas of Central America. Sadly, this magnificent and noble beast is today an endangered species, rare except in parts of the larger reserves: Santa Rosa, Tortuguero, and Corcovado national parks, the Río Macho Forest Reserve, and lower levels of the Cordillera Talamanca.

Although a few of the famous black "panther" variety exist, most Central American jaguars are a rich yellow, spotted with large black rosettes. Jaguars are the largest and most powerful of the American members of the cat family—a mature jaguar measures more than 2 meters (6 feet) in length and weighs as much as 90 kilograms (200 pounds). The animal's head and shoulders are huge, the legs relatively short and thick. An adept climber and swimmer, the jaguar is a versatile hunter, at home in trees, on ground, and even in water. Not surprisingly, it feeds on a wide range of arboreal, terrestrial, and aquatic animals and is powerful enough to kill a full-grown cow.

Don't be surprised if you come across a jaguar's footprints alongside a mangrove islet or streambed in the gallery forest. Don't get your hopes (or fears) up, however. You're not likely to see one lying lazily by the riverbank (a favorite pastime), one paw dangling in the water, as it waits to flip out a passing fish or turtle. Although one source states that they seem not to avoid the scent of humans and may follow a person walking a trail, most agree that jaguars are extremely shy creatures, not particularly dangerous, and attack humans very rarely. Although jaguars are legally protected and spotted cat trophies cannot be imported into the United States, the cats are still hunted. However, the main threat to the remaining jaguar population is deforestation. When roads penetrate the primeval forest, the jaguar is among the first large mammals to disappear