JAGUARS ROAM URBAN AREA IN THE PANTANAL

Residents of Corumbá, the capital of the Pantanal in Mato Grosso do Sul, and the neighboring city of Ladário are concerned about sightings of jaguars (Panthera onca) roaming the streets. They held a protest to demand solutions from authorities.

The Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) confirmed 11 cases of jaguars in urban areas of the cities near the Pantanal.

Security cameras captured footage of the animals. One of the recordings shows a jaguar attempting to hunt a dog at the entrance of a residence. The incident occurred in the Eco Parque neighborhood.

"She grabbed my dog, who started screaming. A man also shouted, and with the noise, the jaguar got scared and released the dog. After letting go, the jaguar ran, jumped the fence, and disappeared into the woods," said Marielle dos Santos, the dog's owner.

In Ladário, resident Larissa Freitas reported that she and her family witnessed attacks on a calf, a pig, a female dog, and another dog.

In one of the cases, a jaguar reportedly entered her mother-in-law’s house and attacked one of the dogs.

Safety measures and reinforced monitoring were adopted by the community and the Environmental Military Police (PMA).

After the sightings, residents had to adapt their routines to the presence of the animals.

Some reinforced gates, others restricted the outdoor time of their pets and began locking their homes earlier in the evening.

Luka Gonçalves, an analyst at the IHP Institute, states that the flooding of the Paraguay River is directly related to the increase in jaguar sightings in the urban areas of Ladário and Corumbá.

"During the flood, animals lose dry territory and seek refuge in higher areas, which brings them closer to the cities," explained Luka.

Encounters with jaguars also increased after the 2020 wildfires in the Pantanal, when fire consumed 26% of the biome and affected more than 4.65 billion animals.

Diego Viana, a biologist and PhD candidate in environmental ecology, explains that the fires caused a spatial reorganization of species, which can alter animal behavior and increase sightings in urban zones.

According to the biologist, it is essential to approach the situation in a balanced way.

"It is necessary to protect domestic animals while also ensuring that public institutions and third-sector organizations continue working on wildlife conservation and public safety."

Following the protest, meetings between residents and representatives of official agencies are expected to take place in the coming days to address the issue.

A public hearing at the City Council is also planned to discuss the matter.

In a technical note, IBAMA provided guidelines to the public about coexistence between jaguars and city residents:

• - Avoid walking in areas where jaguars have been seen
• - Carry a compressed air horn to use in case of encounters
• - Keep lots clean and vegetation trimmed

The document also states that the removal of jaguars should only be used as a last resort, as it does not solve the structural conflict and can pose risks to the animal's health. In the past, this measure was adopted and led to the accidental death of two animals, prompting a change in protocols.

The PMA reports that it has been conducting patrols and maintaining base points in areas with higher numbers of sightings, such as Mirante da Capivara.