PREVIEW

A jaguar rescued from the middle of the Rio Negro after being shot in the head in October has been safely released back into the wild following a first-of-its-kind operation.

The mission, carried out in mid-November, is the first documented case of a Panthera onca being rescued, treated and reintroduced into its natural habitat in the Amazon.

It was led by Brazil’s government of Amazonas through the State Secretariat for Animal Protection (Sepet-AM).

According to the agency’s secretary, Joana Darc, the operation represents a major milestone in the state’s commitment to wildlife protection.

“The release is a determination from Governor Wilson Lima, so that we would use all forces of the government and partners to reach this moment,” she said. “Wild animals belong in nature. We are the ones, as a society, who occupy these spaces and drive animals away from their own habitat. Now we are fulfilling our legal duty, the State’s responsibility, to return this animal to nature with integrity and health.”

The animal was discovered in the Rio Negro as it attempted to cross from Iranduba — 27 kilometres from Manaus — towards the state capital, after being struck by multiple shotgun pellets. The initial rescue was carried out with support from the Environmental River Patrol of the Environmental Police Battalion of the Amazonas Military Police.

Joanna said 36 metal fragments were found embedded in the jaguar’s face, requiring urgent veterinary care.

Following emergency treatment, and with authorisation from the Amazonas Environmental Protection Institute (Ipaam), the jaguar was transferred to the former zoo of the Tropical Hotel. There it remained under the care of biologist Nonato Amaral, receiving constant monitoring throughout its rehabilitation until finally deemed fit to return to the wild.

The mission, coordinated by Sepet-AM, involved veterinarians, biologists, researchers and imaging specialists, who remained in the release area from 1pm on Sunday until 6.40am on Monday. The team camped in the forest to ensure the jaguar could be released under safe conditions, following expert guidance.

The young male jaguar was returned to the wild 40 days after being rescued, in accordance with the recommendation of technical lead biologist Nonato Amaral, who oversaw the entire operation.

“The jaguar arrived by helicopter to a community in Novo Airão and from there was transported by boat to the release site, which was chosen based on technical criteria to allow the animal to live safely, away from the population. This is the first case of rescue, rehabilitation, and release of the species back into the wild in the Amazon,” explained Joana Darc.

The jaguar was sedated by specialist veterinarians and transported in a custom-built crate. After its release, it returned safely to its forest habitat and will now be monitored by experts.

Ahead of the release, the animal was fitted with a radio collar on during health checks that confirmed it was fit for reintroduction. The equipment was supplied by the Jaguar Institute (IOP) of Goiás, through its founder, biologist Leandro Silveira.

“We placed the GPS monitoring collar, which will allow us to follow the jaguar’s movements and determine the territory it will settle in over the next two to three years. This is very important because these data will be used by the scientific community of Amazonas,” Joana added.