TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - The first publicly released video of the only known wild jaguar in the United States shows the giant cat roaming around a creek and other parts of a mountain range in southern Arizona.
El Jefe - Spanish for "the boss" - has been living in the Santa Rita Mountains, about 25 miles south of downtown Tucson, for over three years.
Conservationists tracking the jaguar released a short video Wednesday showing him walking around mountain terrain.
Conservation CATalyst and the Center for Biological Diversity released new video today of the only known wild jaguar currently in the United States.Captured on remote sensor cameras in the Santa Rita Mountains just outside of Tucson, the dramatic footage provides a glimpse of the secretive life of one of nature’s most majestic and charismatic creatures. This is the first-ever publicly released video of the #jaguar, recently named 'El Jefe' by Tucson students, and it comes at a critical point in this cat’s conservation. Learn more here: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2016/jaguar-02-03-2016.html
Posted by Center for Biological Diversity on Wednesday, February 3, 2016
"A lot of people have no idea that we have jaguars in the United States or that they belong here," said Randy Serraglio of the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity. "In bringing this video we hope to inspire people to care about these animals and support protection for their homes."
El Jefe is the only verified jaguar in the U.S. since another animal, named Macho B, was euthanized after getting injured in March 2009.
The Center for Biological Diversity says El Jefe's habitat is threatened by a proposed open pit mine that has been in the works for many years.
