Information on Jaguars for Kids
The jaguar is a member of the cat family. According to the website of Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo, it belongs to the group Felidae, which includes 36 other feline species. Jaguars are the biggest of South America's large felines, and the third largest group of cats in the world. Jaguars today live mostly in the Amazon, although some have been seen occasionally in the United States, particularly around Texas and Arizona.
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History/Mythology
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Because of their immense strength, jaguars were a significant part of Native American mythology. Some Native Americans believed that this species of animals protected them from evil, according to the National Geographic for Kids website. Jaguars can climb trees easily, pounce on their prey and kill them with one massive bite on the head or neck.
Diet/Hunting Style
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In the wild, jaguars eat fish, turtles and caimans, but they also favor larger animals such as deer and cows. According to the Woodland Park website, the species' diet at the zoo is somewhat similar to that of humans. In a zoo they'll consume beef, mutton, chicken, rabbit, beef knuckle bones and ground meat. The species is quite efficient in acquiring its prey. They have perfected the art of lying in wait. For some of their prey, they will climb atop trees, ready to fall upon their prey. For other prey -- particularly smaller types -- they will crush them, breaking their necks.
Life/Reproductive Cycle
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Jaguars can live between 11 and 15 years in the wild, but at a zoo, they might live to be 22. Like human babies, they are born helpless, relying on their mothers for their survival. But unlike people, their growth and development happens much more rapidly. At 2 weeks, they open their eyes. According to the National Geographic, their mothers begin to take them on hunting trips. By the time they reach 1 or 2 years old, they are hunting on their own. The females become sexually mature sooner than their male counterparts -- by the time they are 2 years old. Males are fully developed by age 3 or 4.
Why Humans Kill Jaguars
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Humans find the spotted fur of this particular animal quite attractive. They kill the jaguar, using its fur to make clothes. A rancher might kill a jaguar because jaguars have been known to kill livestock for food.
Jaguars' Current Status
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The jaguar is an endangered species in the U.S. According to the Woodland Park Zoo, as of 2012, estimates are that about 10,000 such cats still live in the wild, particularly in the rainforests of the Amazon. The website suggests that the animal's continued survival is contingent on both its ability to adapt to changes to environment, and on concerned citizens' willingness to speak out and to stop buying products made from the fur of these creatures.
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