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Wild Jaguar's Euthanization Raises Ire

Emily Sohn, Discovery News

Even now that the cat is dead, controversies continue, partly because only a partial necropsy was performed. That left major organ systems unexamined, including the brain, spinal cord, lymphatic system, and a large portion of the heart.

As a result, scientists can't say for sure whether Macho B had a preexisting condition, like feline AIDS or leukemia. (At about 15 or 16 years old, after all, he was old for a wild jaguar and the oldest wild jaguar ever handled). Just as likely is the possibility that the process of snaring, tranquilizing and collaring harmed the animal in some way, especially since his demise happened within days of his appearance in the trap.

"All of the critical evidence is missing," said Jessup, who has 30 years of experience with wildlife captures and post-mortem examinations. "It doesn't look like we will ever get a good answer as to what happened."

That's particularly unfortunate, he said, because cases like these have the potential to be real teachable moments.

"If something about the way you capture an animal causes stress, injury, pain or death, you've got to know so that next time you capture one, you don't make the same mistake," Jessup said. "I'm sure everyone feels terrible about it, but if we haven't been able to learn from it, that's really bad."

Still, by grabbing the public's attention, Macho B can spread the word about jaguar conservation, said Michael Robinson, a conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, an advocacy group in Pinos Altos, N.M.

Jaguars lived across the southwestern United States until the mid-1800s and showed up in Texas until the mid-1990s. Now, some conservationists are talking about bringing them back. Just this week, a decision in a federal lawsuit made way for the creation of a scientific plan to do just that.

"One of the major problems that certainly contributed to Macho B's death was that there was no recovery plan for jaguars," Robinson said.

"It's too late for him. But we still hope there are jaguars in our mountains. And we look forward to a scientific plan that will make sure their numbers increase."

A memorial service was held for Macho B in Tucson on March 5.

Animal Planet: Jaguars

Arizona Game and Fish Department

Discovery Blog: Born Animal