Living with Jaguars: Protect Belize's Largest Cat

Ya’axche works with farmers of the Maya Golden Landscape and respond to jaguar conflict calls within communities. Through its Human Jaguar Conflict Program, for the period June 2021 to March 2022, Ya’axche has:

• Responded to nine calls of jaguar attacks on livestock, calves and domestic animals within five communities (San Pedro Columbia, San Miguel, Mafredi, Indian Creek and Medina Bank)
• Seven foxlights were set up at several aguar-friendly farms, inclusive of a solar light for a farm with recurrent attacks
• Fourteen camera traps were deployed on farms to monitor jaguar activity (Medina Bank, Indian Creek, Big Falls, San Pedro Columbia, Aguacate and Mafredi)
• Conducted key awareness and outreach activities with target communities of the MGL and includes local radio show, social media online campaign, virtual informational sessions with local environmental groups, and face-to-face presentations with international visiting group.
• Local radio talk show raised awareness of the importance of protecting jaguars and their habitat. The talk show also addressed the issues with human-jaguar conflicts and recommended mitigation strategies to reduce jaguar attacks. Farmers were able to call in to the show to ask questions.
• A social media online campaign was launched in the month of November and December 2021 to commemorate Jaguar International Day. A weekly Facebook post was made highlighting the importance of protecting jaguars, prey base and their habitats. It also showcases the mitigation measure to prevent and reduce jaguar attacks.
• Ya’axche provided an informational session to the local environmental group Rio Grande River Keepers to learn on the importance of camera trap surveys in protected areas and farmlands, alongside observing the key wildlife documented.
• Round River Conservation Studies student group learnt of the history of HJCP, and current work with small-scale farmers. The group also had the chance to visit one of the jaguar-friendly farms in Medina Bank.
• A Facebook Live was done in December 2021 to share the importance of wildfire monitoring with camera traps and results. At the end of the live, audience were engaged with questions and gifted with Ya’axche giveaways
• Camera trap results indicate that five wildcats (Jaguar, Puma, Ocelot, Jaguarundi, and Margay) were detected alongside the prey base which includes the Central American Agouti, Collared Peccary, Nine-banded Armadillo, Paca, Forest Rabbit, Tayra, White-tailed deer, and White-nosed coati.

Links:

• https://yaaxche.org/