Jaguars are now only found in around half of their historic range. Populations are becoming isolated by landscape conversion making them vulnerable to disease and genetic defects.
WildCRU PhD student Guilherme Alvarenga is researching how jaguars respond to environmental changes and identifying core areas crucial to the species’ survival. Using data from 172 GPS-collared jaguars – the largest dataset ever compiled on jaguar movements – he is predicting habitat suitability across the entire species’ range.
Work in 2023 identified the Amazonian Rainforest and Mayan Forest as key areas and demonstrated the crucial importance of large continuous areas of wild habitat for this species to survive.
This work is invaluable in identifying priority areas for conservation efforts that will protect jaguars and other threatened species.