The decline of jaguars Panthera onca in the Argentine Chaco

ALTRICHTER MARIANA; BOAGLIO, GABRIEL; PABLO PEROVIC

ORYX

CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS

Lugar: Cambridge; Año: 2006

0030-6053

We assessed the distribution and status ofjaguar Panthera onca in the Argentine Chaco, one of theleast known areas within its range. Current jaguardistribution in the Chaco encompasses parts of centraland western Formosa, western Chaco, eastern Saltaand north-eastern Santiago del Estero Provinces. Jaguarrange was reduced following colonization of the semi-arid Chaco even though there has been little deforesta-tion. Jaguars have not been observed over the last15 years in areas where colonization occurred more than35 years ago, probably reflecting hunting pressure. Live-stock predation is lower now than when the area wasfirst settled in the 1920s. This may indicate low jaguardensities as the livestock management system has notchanged. Local people, however, continue to hunt jag-uars with the intention of exterminating them. Education,enforcing jaguar hunting laws, increasing control ofpoaching in protected areas, and creating more protectedareas may be the most efficient strategies to preserve thejaguar population of the Argentine Chaco