Belize's history of protecting jaguars is one of the proudest in the world - but it's a very fragile balance and the cat remains a prized possession for hunters.

That was illustrated on Sunday in Caledonia Village in the Corozal district. Today's Guardian Newspaper reported on a hunting expedition for game meat which encountered a mature male jaguar, reportedly near a cane field road on the outskirts of the village.

The Guardian newspaper which first published the story today, reports that the hunters shot it in the back of the head and took it back to the village where it was skinned. The pelt is considered valuable.

Today via telephone form Cayo, Jaguar expert Omar Figueroa told us the report distresses and concerns him greatly.

We warn you that the images used in the story - may be unpleasant to some:

Omar Figueroa - Jaguar Expert (Via Telephone)
"It was very disturbing, Jules. Without a doubt, it is outrageous to say the least. As a country, Belize has done so much to advance jaguar research and conservation. In so many regards, we are the envy of the region, and to see this happening, is just very disturbing and disappointing. It appears to be a large male from the size of the head. Usually, females tend to have smaller heads. But what caught my attention is you see that it has intact canines, and there are no other signs to suggest that this cat was old cat, or was somehow injured, so, it had to be preying on livestock. So, it is very disturbing in that, what seems to have been removed is clearly a male who was probably in his prime out there, a dominant jaguar in the forests. When you remove these breeding members of the population, you really create a major imbalance in the local population of that area. So, if these incidents are a lot more common, or if they are happening across the country, it is a cause for us to be concerned about. Jules, what we need to understand, I think, first and foremost, is that we're dealing here with what is arguably one of the most iconic species in the Americas. This cat has been around for generations and generations, from way back in the time of the Mayas and the Olmecs. They have all had this cat as a part of their culture, their history, their traditions, and if we don't take the necessary steps to start to protect this species and to ensure its survival, then in the next couple generations, we won't have this cat around."

For the avoidance of doubt, it is strictly illegal to hunt jaguars in Belize or to trade in their pelts or teeth.

Figueroa estimates that there is a population of 400 to 600 jaguars in Belize.

Channel 7



Jaguar killed in Corozal


Jaguar killed in the Corozal District
The Belize Forestry Department has commenced an investigation of the killing of a jaguar in the Corozal district. These pictures emailed to our News Centre show the young male jaguar after it had been killed, reportedly near Caledonia village and brought into the community. The incident is reported to have happened last weekend; but it was not until late this week that word of the killing surfaced. Love News understands that the animal was killed somewhere in the vicinity of Caledonia and San Pablo villages. Under Belize's laws, it is illegal to hunt or capture jaguars, which are listed as an endangered species. The Forestry Department today dispatched an officer to Caledonia village to investigate the killing of the animal. We will continue to monitor the story and bring you developments as they occur.

LOVETV