Tourists visiting the Iberá Provincial Reserve in the Argentine province of Corrientes filmed an adult jaguar walking along the trails of the protected area. The animal, a young male named Ombú, was born about a year and a half ago in the San Alfonso Reserve and, during its dispersal process, reached the tourist areas of the Esteros del Iberá.
The NGO Red Yaguareté, which shared the footage on its social media, stated that this is the first time a jaguar has been seen in areas open to visitation in the reserve. The organization said that “the jaguar has no interest in getting involved with people.” In the video, Ombú appears sitting on the trail and then slowly moves away toward the forest.
Corrientes is the only Argentine province where the jaguar population is growing. “This occurs after more than half a century of having extinguished it by force of bullets,” the NGO highlighted. In contrast, in other provinces the situation is still one of decline, with the felines losing territory and being killed.
In Paraguay, in April of this year, residents of the Fortuna Guazú colony in the Department of Amambay spotted a jaguar that, according to reports, would be a possibly pregnant female. The sighting was considered rare in the region.