Born To Be Wild: First Jaguars Born In Argentinian Forest Where They Went Extinct 70 Years

Two jaguar cubs have been born in an Argentinian forest where they went extinct 70 years ago. The cubs were born in the protected wetland to a captive-born jaguar released into Argentina's Ibera National Park last year. A hidden camera confirmed keepers' suspicions of the happy event showing the mother jaguar caring for her offspring in the 1.8-million-acre Iberá Park. The cubs parents were released last year: Jatobazinho, a rehabilitated wild jaguar from Brazil and Arami, the first jaguar cub born in 2018 at the Jaguar Reintroduction Center in the wetlands. According to Sebastián Di Martino, Conservation Director of Rewilding Argentina:, “The rewilding program seeks to recover the ecological functionality of the wetlands by bringing back missing species. As the top predator, the jaguar has a key role to play.” In Argentina, jaguars have lost over 95% of their original range.The jaguar program, which started in 2012, has successfully released eight jaguars into Iberá Park. Kristine Tompkins, President of Tompkins Conservation and UN Patron of Protected Areas, celebrated the news:, “I am overjoyed with the news that one of the two original jaguar cubs born at the Ibera breeding project has brand new cubs of her own. With jaguars now successfully breeding in the wild, the species is well on its way to recovering.” It is estimated that between 200 and 300 jaguars remain in Argentina.