Jaguar rescued from Pantanal wildfires gives birth to a cub
The jaguar (Panthera onca) named Miranda gave birth ten months after being rescued from the wildfires that hit the Pantanal in 2024.
On August 15, 2024, Miranda was found hiding inside a concrete culvert on a farm in the Pantanal city of Miranda, Mato Grosso do Sul. She was in critical condition, suffering from severe burns, especially on her paws. The animal underwent a recovery process that lasted over 30 days.
After rehabilitation, Miranda was released back into the wild with a GPS collar and has been monitored by the NGO Onçafari since September of the same year.
According to biologist Marcos Ávila, Miranda began to show signs of maternal behavior.
“She remained in a forested area for more than six consecutive days, then started circling around the same spot — a typical behavior in females with newborn cubs,” he explained.
For two weeks, the team followed the signals from her radio collar until she was captured on camera alongside her cub. The images were taken by motion-activated cameras that document wildlife without human presence.
The team was surprised by the footage.
Miranda’s journey represents the effectiveness of rescue, rehabilitation, and wildlife monitoring efforts in response to the wildfires.
“It’s a gift for everyone who came together to support the Pantanal’s recovery,” the team said.
Wildfires in the Pantanal
In 2024, the Pantanal faced another devastating wildfire season.
According to data from the Environmental Satellite Applications Laboratory at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), more than 2.62 million hectares were consumed by the flames.
According to the Cerrado-Pantanal Technical Wildlife Rescue Group (GRETAP), snakes, caimans, and amphibians are among the animals most frequently found dead due to the fires.