Bring Jaguars Back Home

El Jefe

Conservationists want to re-introduce the jaguar (Panthera orca), the America's only surviving big cat to its historic southwestern habitat.  Individual males have been photographed roaming the borderlands in Arizona and New Mexico, but there is no resident population above the border with Mexico.  A small resident population survives in Sonora, hundreds of miles to the south.  The first jaguar photographed north of the border was in the Dos Cabezas mountains in 2016.  The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the US Fish & Wildlife Service to expand critical habitat for the cat in remote areas and begin an experimental reintroduction into New Mexico's Gila National Forest along the Arizona state line.  Historically, jaguars ranged throughout the southern United States before being nearly totally exterminated by man.  Re-introduction would also benefit the dwindling Mexican population by allowing genetic interchange.

The Center was involved in the successful re-introduction of grey wolves, including the distinct and rare sub-species the Mexican wolf.  It was listed as endangered in the 1970's.  A captive breeding program was begun by Mexico and the United States to recover the species when their number was only seven individuals.  The latest survey released in March shows this wolf has increased to 196 in Arizona and New Mexico, marking the sixth straight year of increase.  The campaign to re-introduce the jaguar has never had the momentum of the wolf re-introduction program.  Grey wolves now colonize the upper Midwest and six states in the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest.  Conservationists see an opportunity for the jaguar with suitable habitat on public land and a migration corridor, the San Rafael valley, from Mexico north across the boarder.

But now, thanks to an incredible act of perverse vengence by the outgoing Repugnant governor of Arizona that route may be closing if action is not taken to reverse an irresponsible petty politician.  Workers have steadily double-stacked steel shipping containers on the boarder at the direction of former Governor Doug Ducey as makeshift barrier to illegal immigrants.  The work was slowed by protests from the federal government and environmentalists, but Ducey pressed ahead with his stupidity, even suing the federal government so he could continue his folly over objections that the construction was illegal and could damage natural water systems and endangered wildlife like the jaguar.  The makeshift "wall" was begun in Yuma, a popular crossing point, but now it extends into the San Rafael Valley were there are few illegal crossings. Apparently Ducey is attempting to plug holes in the deranged leaders much touted wall against immigration.  As of last week cranes have transported 900 rusting and variously hued containers into the valley, stacking them 17 feet high.  Still there are gaps on steep terrain or in marshy areas large enough for a determined migrant to easily pass through.

The incoming Democratic governor, Katie Hobbs told media she does not know how much it will cost to remove the ersatz barrier.  Much of the ecological damage has already been done.  Remote Guadalupe Canyon was blasted beyond recognition, and steel bollards erected that block wildlife corridors used by elf owls, pronghorns, bears, ocelots and jaguars.