In the last century, Jaguars were trapped and hunted to extinction in the United States. They face the same fate south of the border unless we act quickly to protect this magnificent largest cat in the Western Hemisphere and third largest cat in the world. Since Jaguars will range over 500 miles, creating a sanctuary for the remaining breeding population just 140 miles south of our border is a chance for restoring the American Jaguar, the only large native carnivore entirely missing from the United States.

It is estimated that perhaps some 200 Jaguars still remain in the Mexican state of Sonora. The mission of the Northern Jaguar Project is to establish a 50,000-acre sanctuary for this northernmost population of Jaguars.

The rugged Sierra Madre foothill mountains in Sonora, Mexico, contain one of the largest unfragmented, near-pristine but unprotected wildlife habitat remaining in North America. This area is imminently threatened by ranching, development, trapping and hunting. The area’s rough mountains, deep canyons, and sheer cliffs, with a flora mix of tropical thornscrub, tropical deciduous forest, and oak woodlands, support a rich and regionally unique habitat for biodiversity.

The sanctuary would not only protect the Jaguar but would preserve biodiversity, including some rare and threatened or endangered species:

• The northernmost nesting sites of Military Macaws
• The northernmost breeding population of Neotropical River Otters
• The southernmost nesting site for Bald Eagles
• Ocelots, Mountain Lions, Bob Cats, Desert Tortoises, Gila Monsters, Lilac-crowned Parrots, Eared Trogons, are just a few

As a first step toward establishing the reserve, 10,000 acres was purchased in 2003. Another 33,000 acres are immediately available for purchase and management for about $2.5 million. Many conservation minded individuals and NGO’s have rallied to raise the funds.

You can help too by contributing to our Jaguar Fund. Help protect this magnificent cat and the wildlife denizens of this threatened habitat. Help bring back the Jaguar to the United States.

The Western Alliance for Nature

Send checks designated for the Jaguar Fund to:
Western Alliance for Nature,
PO Box 1041, Malibu CA 90265

For more information call: 310-456-0611 or email: director@wanconservancy.org