A scientific research paper awaiting peer overview explains how a jaguar that when lived on mainland Brazil will need to have swum a minimum of 1.27 km (0.8 miles) to a forested island within the Serra da Mesa Reservoir. Because of path cameras, scientists have proof that this specific male jaguar was on the mainland in May 2020. In August 2024, path cams noticed the identical jaguar on an island, which is separated from the mainland by over a mile of water.
Scientists assume the jaguar swam there, and the 2 most probably prospects are 1) a direct 2.48-km (1.5-mile) crossing, or 2) another path involving a “stepping-stone islet,” which might require a 1.06-km (0.7-mile) swim adopted by a 1.27-km (0.8-mile) swim. Even when the jaguar took the stepping-stone path, a 1.27-km swim beats the beforehand recorded longest swim by a jaguar by six instances.
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The research’s authors say the longest beforehand verified jaguar swim is about 200 meters or 0.1 miles. However why did this jaguar swim to date?
Talking to Live Science, lead writer Leandro Silveira referred to as the document “so stunning,” as a result of there’s no apparent purpose for the animal to have ventured out to date.
“Prey on this area seems to be pretty evenly distributed,” Silveira mentioned. “Nothing suggests the island has extra prey, nor do the shorelines. We expect he determined to discover a brand new space—extra probably associated to looking for females or territory than an absence of meals.”
See camera-trap proof of the jaguar on the mainland and on the island right here:
Picture by Silveira et. al. (CC BY 4.0)
Learn the total research (not but peer reviewed) here.
Header inventory picture by Bas Vermolen/Getty Photographs