![\"\"](\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-5DMZ2HkaMO0\/W_1HitBFdpI\/AAAAAAAATyA\/T1tvnIRx44o-U-9OYKjeBGEhmVDamjRNQCLcBGAs\/s1600\/jaguar8.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nIn the Pantanal, regulations about minimum observation distance are kept strictly. So we watched this most beautiful female from a safe distance of 20 meters, though still too close for my 500 mm lens. Compared to the chaotic experience of Tiger watching in India I had last year, this was very civilised and tranquil. Perfect. This specific female receives many visitors and is one of the most habituated Jaguars of the Pantanal. When she started walking on the trunk to the right, all I could get were tight head shots:<\/p>\n Eventually she sat down again to rest, partially concealed behind aerial roots, giving an interesting atmosphere to the photographs:<\/p>\n After a wile we let her be and went on to find more Jaguars. A short while later we bumped into a huge, scarred, wild-looking male just after he crossed the river. He was not habituated at all, gave us fierce looks and disappeared promptly into the forest. What a powerful experience!<\/p>\n We sailed past the original spot where we had female #1, and found her snoozing a bit deeper in the forest. Isn’t she lovely?<\/p>\n Our luck hadn’t run out yet. On the way back to Jofre we were surprised to find another female resting on a sandbank. She is not a known female and was very wary of us – I managed a few quick shots before she snuck off into the vegetation.<\/p>\n Our next two days in the Pantanal proved somewhat less productive for Jaguars, though we managed daily encounters. Our first, lucky day was sunny and hot – Caimans and Jaguars become more active on sunny days. The next days were overcast and wet, and we worked harder to connect with Jaguars. Jaguar #4 was another large male. He kept his distance from us, and stalked quietly through the tall grass. He pounced on a Caiman but missed, and I missed the shot. But it was a breathtaking burst of action. Amazing.<\/p>\n