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Jaguars are very comfortable around water and will hunt aquatic animals.

New footage captured by the Jaguar Identification Project in Brazil’s Pantanal has shown jaguars hunting in water.

This shows how adaptable jaguars can be and how important wetlands are for their wellbeing.

It’s no secret that jaguars are comfortable around and even in water, but new footage has captured just how efficient they can be in an aquatic environment. These powerful and athletic felines will take down just about any prey they come across, and water is no barrier to them. Jaguars hunting on land is an incredible sight, but seeing them hunt in water is even more impressive!

The Jaguar Identification Project is dedicated to the long-term study and conservation of jaguars in Brazil’s Pantanal. They mainly rely on citizen scientists to build up a database of individual jaguars and understand their behavior. With the help of the Edges of Earth team—modern explorers who conduct in-field expeditions—they set up a camera trap grid to estimate the jaguar population in the Porto Jofre area of Brazil. The goal was to assess how these magnificent predators are adapting to their rapidly changing ecosystem.

The team spent a week exploring the area’s rivers and looking for signs of jaguars. These big cats are at the top of the food chain here, and the other animals know it! A capybara warning bark is often a signal that the jaguar is in the area.

Jaguars are good at taking full advantage of their environment. They live in South America’s rainforests, wetlands, and river systems, so water is a big part of their daily life. One has even been spotted swimming across the Panama Canal!

Generally, they wait near riverbanks and strike their prey, dragging it into the water. Some enter the water to dive for fish and turtles. They can hold their breath longer than most other big cats, and the rosettes on their coat give them perfect camouflage against the dappled water.

Jaguars do not view water as a barrier.

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In Brazil, however, the team saw two jaguars use the most impressive aquatic skills recorded to date to hunt their prey. One, named Ousado, even dived deep under the water so that he could stealth-hunt a caiman from below! Another, named Medrosa, used treetops as a diving platform to launch herself at unsuspecting prey in the water.

Jaguars are known for being highly adaptable and flexible hunters. In a dynamic ecosystem, they will use their physical abilities and skills to hunt wherever they can. Jaguars have large paws and strong limbs, which make them very efficient swimmers. They are also intelligent and will learn from their mistakes, refining their aquatic hunting skills.

Research has shown that wetland areas have higher densities of jaguars. In Brazil’s wetlands, jaguars are not currently classified as endangered, but they are considered Near Threatened overall and still face significant threats in the Pantanal. For these big cats, a river can provide life-saving food during droughts and serve as a refuge during fires. As human pressures increase, it is vital to protect these habitats so that jaguars can thrive.

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