Jody Risser takes his jaguar for a walk into the sea, San Pedro, Christmas 1989
Iguana Jack Westerhold: One rarely sees a jaguar on a leash! Sharon and Jody had that poor jaguar, named Jingo. Sharon is from West Palm Beach, I was to bring a pickup truck down to Belize for a friend. I think her husband's name was Jody. She had ask me to stop by her house in West Palm to give her friend a ride to Belize. That would have been in 80"s. As for as I remember the Jaguar was from her house on the mainland. I think she stayed at the Coral Beach Hotel when she was in town.
Fiona Elliot:
That cat used to go for my ankles when I would walk by Ramon's Beach area. A little nerve wracking. He was a handful that cat!
Sylvia Eiley:
Jody and Sharon had a boat anchored in front of Ramons or in that area, the boat was The Osprey.
Michelle Rivana Buckley: Their house was white they lived on the second floor and the first floor was wired with chain link fence wire to prevent the jaguar from getting out. How I know was I was walking the Caye in that area (airport strip) and stumbled upon the house. Looking back I was trespassing but at the time it felt like an adventure. At that time hardly anyone was living in the area. The Jaguar was friendly I know this because I spent my entire morning playing with it. I was not scared but fascinated. in his cage was a soccer ball and I would push the ball back and forth by sticking my hands thru the open links. It would come rub its head wherever I was sitting. I would rub it and it was so cuddly and friendly. It was like a big house cat, to this day I can feel it’s soft coat. I know it sound crazy but back then I was adventurous. I was a teenager then and was not thinking of the danger. I was like a Jaguar. I had never seen a real one only from photos. The excitement grew and I was like it must be friendly I’ll check. We grew up having plenty of wild animals as pet. My brother Ashley brought home an ocelot and my mom gave him it to our neighbor.
Joanna Doherty Salone: I was around 12 when we went in the late 80s, and my mom and aunts made sure we didn't go too close when walking around.
Robert Tewes:
Went to the house with my brother Mike while he was giving a vet consult. As I was sitting on the couch, the jag put its front paws up on the back of the couch and started licking my hair. Needless to say, I sat petrified until my grooming was over!
Kriss Holtz:
Jody & Sherry Risser, stayed on the Osprey, a black farrow cement boat that Jody built in Texas. Jody was a Vet. They sailed from. Rio Dulce. Jingo was a young Jaguar. They bought Jingo in the states, he was a sweet boy and loved to swim at Ramon's.
Jody spent little time on the island but Sherry was there with Jingo, two Macaws & an English Bull Terrier. When we were living in the house to take care of the critters, Jingo would lie on the sofa with his head on my lap, he purred so loud you couldn't hear the tv!!
Spent many a day walking & swimming with Jingo & special time.
Jingo was left & starved to the point of putting him down.
Luz Hunter: I remember in the late 80's, Jody took off in the Osprey (black hull) and was in the Rio Dulce for a good while. He had an Ocelot living on board at the time I started to do trips to the Rio Dulce.
Alexander J Morris:
Jingo was actually friendly. Many people got in the cage with it. It would do tricks and play. Its nails and teeth were filed down which was kinda sad
Daniel Perdomo:
I flew them from Punta Gorda direct to San Pedro. Thats when i was a pilot for Maya Airways.
Photograph by David Gosling courtesy Olav Larsen
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