Jaguar conservation efforts focus on Paraguay's Chaco region

The Paraguayan Chaco remains a critical habitat for the survival of the jaguar, a species central to the nation's natural heritage. According to Rolando De Barros Barreto, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, the country's extensive forest areas, particularly in the Chaco, offer vital opportunities to ensure the feline's survival.

However, conservationists face significant challenges. The last official national population estimate, dating back to 2017, placed the number of jaguars in Paraguay between 600 and 800 individuals. Because this data has not been updated in nearly a decade, assessing the current status of the wild population remains difficult.

Key threats to the species include forest fragmentation, illegal hunting, a decline in natural prey, and increasing conflicts with livestock activities. While the Chaco serves as the primary refuge, smaller populations exist in the Atlantic Forest of the Upper Paraná in the Eastern Region, though their presence is significantly more limited due to landscape changes.