A recent study authored by Panthera has given us a closer look into the lives and habits of jaguars in the wild.
This study focused on how female jaguars used similar tactics to female lions to prevent infanticide, which is common among male big cats.
They often kill their own cubs or kill other cubs that they see as future competition.
The study revealed that female jaguars will often hide their cubs and use flirtation and sexual tactics to distract the male jaguar.
In one example, a female jaguar was seen playing with her new cub, but she frequently had a male suitor come by.
Whenever the male jaguar was around, the cub was nowhere to be seen, leading researchers to suspect that the mother had hidden the cub.
This was done all while the female jaguar was behaving in a way similar to a female being courted by the male jaguar.
This study gives us a unique glimpse into the social abilities and tactics of female jaguars.
It reveals just how intelligent these animals can be, as well as the lengths that mothers can go to for the safety of their cubs.
This article by Abigail Jane was first published by OneGreenPlanet on 13 December 2021. Lead Image Source : Jorge Barragan/Panthera.
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