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Rare Jaguar Appears on Camera in Southern Arizona
Researchers in southern Arizona have confirmed the appearance of a new jaguar, marking the fifth individual detected in the region over the last 15 years. The big cat was photographed multiple times in November by a remote camera stationed at a watering hole in the rugged Sky Islands region, an area known for its biodiversity and proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Staff with the University of Arizona Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center identified the newcomer by its rosette pattern, the unique spot arrangement that functions much like a fingerprint in humans. The animal, nicknamed Cinco, was captured on camera on three separate days and appears healthy, according to researchers.
“We are very excited. It signifies that this edge population of jaguars continues to come here because they are finding what they need,” said Dr. Susan Malusa, who leads the center’s jaguar and ocelot project.
Teams returned to the site last week to search for scat and environmental DNA to determine the animal’s sex, diet, and age. Jaguars in this region typically prey on skunks, javelina, turtles, and small deer.
Although most of the species’ range is in Central and South America, a small number of male jaguars have periodically moved into the United States from core populations in Mexico. Breeding north of the border has not been recorded in more than a century. Federal wildlife officials say that threats remain significant, including habitat loss, fragmentation, and illegal poaching.
In 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service revised the land designated as critical jaguar habitat in Arizona following a legal challenge. The protected area now covers roughly 1,000 square miles across Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise counties.
Researchers say the consistent pattern of new jaguars appearing every few years indicates a fragile but ongoing recovery. Camera traps have improved detection in recent years, yet experts stress that the animals remain elusive. Cinco’s decision to continue returning to the same watering area over ten days was described as rare.
“These sightings tell us the landscape still supports these animals,” Malusa said. “But this is our chance to get it right. Keeping habitat corridors open is essential if jaguars are going to persist here.”
Conservation groups in Arizona rely heavily on volunteer networks to maintain camera stations, collect DNA samples, and map wildlife movement across the borderlands. Over the last decade, these efforts have produced more than 225 detections of jaguars, ocelots, and wolves moving through the Sky Islands.
Researchers say the newest sighting reinforces a simple message. The species is still trying to reclaim parts of its historic range, and the opportunity to support that recovery still exists.
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