Introducing the first jaguar cubs born at the San Diego Zoo since 1989! The two unnamed siblings will remain in the den for a few months until they are able to walk outdoors on their own. (Photo by Ken Bohn)

Dear Friend,

Two little bundles of rosette-covered joy arrived on April 27. The tiny jaguar cubs are the first to be born at the San Diego Zoo since 1989. Adorable though they may be, this endangered Panthera species faces a host of challenges in its South, Central, and North American forest habitat: logging, mining, and other forms of human encroachment, as well as the illegal fur trade all pose grave threats to this big cat.

As its habitat disappears, so do the prey animals jaguars need to survive, such as tapirs, monkeys, large rodents, and deer. Today, this big cat is estimated to inhabit only about 46 percent of its historic range.

To help beat this trend, San Diego Zoo Global is partnering with Wildlands Network and other Latin American conservationists to study, monitor, and protect jaguars. Increasing our understanding of how this stealth cat fits into its ecosystem, its versatility and survival needs, and how this intrepid species finds mates and raises its offspring will help guide conservation and wildlife management strategies moving forward.

You can help us help them by supporting the Wildlife Conservancy today!

Best regards,
San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy Team
wildlifeconservancy@sandiegozoo.org