WILD

Conservation-Rancher Parternship Assists Northern Jaguars

In a press release on 15 Feburary, Sky Island Alliance biologist Sergio Avila  commented:  “Northern jaguars are a reality and they want to stay. Jaguars don’t recognize political boundaries; instead they choose robust prey populations, open space and safe corridors. This healthy feline represents our chance to recover this species in the region.”

Carlos R. Elias, co-owner of the El Aribabi ranch located just 30 miles south of the US/Mexico Border in the Mexican state of Sonora, is working closely with the Sky Islands Alliance as part of the Northern Mexico Conservation Program.   This conservation-rancer collaboration partnership celebrated last week, when a jaguar was photographed by a remote camera along an isolated canyon.  

“We are thrilled about the results of this collaborative project,” said Carlos R. Elias “Our family has worked hard to restore ecological processes in this land. We hope this gets the attention of government agencies and foundations, so we can establish a sustainable model that protects biodiversity and supports landowners and their families at the same time.”

The El Aribaba ranch is a critical habitat for the northern jaguar and this photograph marks a milestone in the recovery of the endangered cat.  The ranch itself is of critical importance — in 2005 it was named a World Biodiversity Hostpot (by Conservation International) and it hosts over 35 pant and animal species protected by Mexican law, including the jaguar, golden eagels, Chiricahua leopard frogs and ocelots.    The ranchwas listed as priority area for conservation by CONANP (Mexican national parks agency) and is just about to be designated as a private preserve.

“The jaguar’s presence in this area confirms the excellent ecological conditions on the property and highlights the landowner’s efforts to protect biodiversity,” Avila said. “Jaguars in northern Mexico are the hope for jaguar recovery in the United States; this is a reminder of our responsibility and an opportunity to do things right this time.”

A key part of the jaguar recovery program is linking lands together to form a large enough habitat for these predators.  This requires cooperation from many stakeholders and focused attention on important passageways along the US/Mexico border.  Animal’s don’t follow our defined political boundaries and it is critically important to allow for natural migration paths, regardless of national or regional borders.  “Predators are crucial for healthy ecosystems,” said Mexican rancher, Carlos R. Elias. “Open space, wild prey populations and wildlife corridors across the region, and across the international US/Mexico border, are vital for their survival. We have to protect and maintain those connections.”  Read the full press release.

Working with El Aribaba is just one piece of the Sky Island Alliance’s work to protect and restore the rich natural heritage of native species and habitats in the Sky Island region of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.  Melanie Emerson, Executive Director of the Alliance, spoke during the WILD9 plenary sessions and her presentation is available online in both English and Spanish.

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