Red List assessment
ROGÉRIO C. DE PAULA1,2, CLAUDIA B. DE CAMPOS1 AND TADEU G. DE OLIVEIRA2,3 human settlements are abundant; ranging from less than 50 inhabitants to towns with Red List assessment for the ca. 50,000 people (Fig. 3). Considering that game hunting for food and cultural purpo- jaguar in the Caatinga Biome ses remains widespread and an important aspect of the local lifestyle, the number of settlements as well as the size of human The Caatinga is the only exclusive Brazilian Biome and the jaguar Panthera onca is populations plays an important role in jaguar one of the most endangered species in this biome. In this paper we present the status conservation. of the species in the Caatinga biome. No specific information on jaguars’ biology and ecology is available for the Caatinga. Jaguars are distributed within the Caatinga Ecology and population information along 178,579 km2, which represents 21% of the biome. This range was estimated Population size based on the confirmed locations, population ranges, and the favourable areas for Jaguar population has never been estimated its presence based on habitat viability models. It seems that the jaguar population in systematically in this biome. The only publis- the biome is very fragmented. Five sub-populations were identified and the area of hed information is very recent (Silveira et al. occupancy of jaguars was 87,325.50 km2. This area comprises only 10% of the total 2010) from research on population estimates area of the Caatinga biome. The general average of all the density estimates resulted in the Serra da Capivara National Park. Since in a number of 0.3 individuals/100 km2, a very low population with estimation of 262 2005 CENAP has additionally been survey- individuals. The status of conservation of jaguar is Critically Endangered C2 a(i). Among the main threats to its populations are stern fragmentation, habitat loss and degradation, loss of prey base, jaguar hunting, and industrialization of the surround- ing areas. Some conservations measures like maintenance of the gene flow among jaguar populations by means of ecological corridors and a new protected area are urgent actions.
Assessment ome since the suggested causes of populati- Critically Endangered C2 a (i) – The total on decline are directly or indirectly generated number of mature individuals is less than 250 by human presence. 19 and the number of mature individuals in each Little information on jaguars is available in subpopulation is less than 50 in the majority the Caatinga. Five subpopulations were de- of the subpopulations. fined based on location groupings and infe- rences of suitable habitat. The Area of Occu- Geographic range pancy of jaguars in the Caatinga is the sum of jaguar records Extent of Occurrence (EOO) and Area of the subpopulations. Therefore, the total of the jaguar distribution range Protected areas 2 States Occupancy (AOO) jaguar’s area of occupancy is 87,325.50 km Caatinga limit The Caatinga comprises a total of 844,453 km2 which represents 49% of the jaguar distribu- throughout ten northeastern States (IBGE tion range and only 10% of the total area of Fig. 1. Estimated Extent of Occurrence 2004). Although the presence of jaguars Pan- the Caatinga biome. EOO in the Caatinga. thera onca within its boundaries has been controversial, it remains one of the most Severe fragmentation threatened species in this biome. Until re- Most of the Caatinga (68%) is disturbed by cently the extent of occurrence in the biome anthropogenic factors (MMA 2002) and only was uncertain due to the lack of information 31.6% remains intact. Present jaguar distribu- and almost the entire Caatinga was indicated tion is related to the remaining natural habi- as an area of unknown status (Sanderson et tat quality which depends on reduced human al. 2002). Studies over the past ten years by presence and activity. The area along Sao several researchers made the calculation of a Francisco River in Bahia state represents one distribution range for Caatinga recently possi- of the sectors with the highest human pres- ble for the first time. The jaguars are distribut- sure (MMA 2002). Consequently, the human ed over 178,579 km2 which represents 21% of development index increased substantially in the biome (Fig.1). This range was estimated the same area (da Silva et al. 2004). Implica-
Bom Jesus Lapa based on confirmed locations (research pro- tions for jaguar conservation are clear since Boqueirao Onca Capivara-Confusoes jects and specific investigations), population they no longer are present in areas of high Chapada Diamantina Raso Catarina Jaguar records ranges, and favourable areas for its presence human development. States based on habitat suitability models (Ferraz et Human density in Caatinga generally is very Caatinga limit al., in prep.). Within this range 35,668 km2 re- low - averaging 50 to 100 people/km2. Within Fig. 2. Area of Occupancy AOO of jaguar present 17 protected areas. These areas are the jaguar range the average is lower than 50 in the Caatinga (polygons of estimated key zones for jaguar conservation in this bi- people/km2 (da Silva et al. 2004). However, subpopulations).
Jaguar in Brazil de Paula et al.
water supplies (through artificial ponds) and increased patrolling and law enforcement to reduce hunting activities, provides a different reality for wild populations of this location, resulting in a higher abundance of prey spe- cies for predators. The proper management confers a more suitable area for jaguars. Con- sidering the specificity of estimates for the particular site, we propose for Subpopulation 2 the same average density estimate as we used for Subpopulation 1 (0.5 ind./100 km2). This estimate was used since the habitat sui- tability index and numbers of records were very similar (except for the deforestation rates that are higher in the southern portion of this subpopulation). Despite the differences espe- cially in the research protocols and data ana- lysis, the values accounted perhaps are really discrepant (maybe it would not be three times as a standardization in the analysis would re- Fig. 3. Human en- duce the difference). The first site is a Natio- croachments within nal Park that has been managed as described the Caatinga’s jaguar above. Although the second site (Boqueirão distribution range. da Onça) has a very low human density (in average <1 person/km2) resulting in one of the most extensively preserved portion of na- ing the region of Boqueirão da Onça in Ba- ind. /100 km2 was calculated considering the tural habitats in the entire biome, there is still 20 hia state. Subpopulation estimates (Table 1) proximity of highly disturbed adjacent areas prey hunting and predator persecution on a were based on the estimates from Boqueirão with lower jaguar density. large scale. However, undoubtedly these two da Onça associated with researchers‘ percep- The density estimates reported by Silveira et are the main areas (together with the Serra tions from field research of sites surveyed for al. (2010) does not reflect the reality of jaguar das Confusões National Park) for jaguar con- local jaguar abundance and more importantly populations in the Caatinga; the evaluation servation in the entire biome. from the variations of the suitability model at Serra da Capivara National Park (at Sub- No research project or specific investigation (Ferraz et al., in prep.). population 2) presented a density estimate of was conducted in Subpopulation 3 with the The densities were directly calculated for 2.67 ind./100 km2. The estimate in this par- exception of CENAP’s camera trapping at the sites where population information was ticular area cannot be observed in any other Chapada Diamantina National Park. From available from camera trapping. Research site within the jaguar range nor even for the this sampling over 60 days no jaguar was de- conducted by CENAP (unpubl. data) found a entire Subpopulation 2 itself, but only for the tected. Despite the significance of protected density estimate of 0.8 ind./100 km2 at Bo- Serra da Capivara National Park due to the area status, a more conservative density es- queirão da Onça (Subpopulation 1). Based on specific management activities the area has. timate for this subpopulation was considered this information and investigations in the rest The management strategies applied to this due to the human occupation in most of its of the subpopulation area an average of 0.5 protected area, which includes year-round area. Thus we defined it as 0.3 ind. /100 km2. Although this subpopulation is more isolated Table 1. Jaguar subpopulations and density estimates in Caatinga. than the subpopulations 1 and 2, a connec- tion can be established between it and 1 if Subpopulation 1 2 3 4 5 changes in land use are applied. For the Subpopulations 4 Raso da Catarina Boqueirão Capivara – Chapada Raso da Bom Jesus and 5 Bom Jesus Lapa located in the extremes da Onça Confusões Diamantina Catarina Lapa of the range, the density estimates reflect the worst case scenario and are 0.2 ind./100 km2 Density 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.1 and 0.1 ind./100 km2, respectively. (ind/100km2) The general average of all the density esti- mates resulted in 0.3 ind./100 km2, a very low Area (km2) 25,560.4 30,938.5 16,464.6 7,872.3 6,490.7 density when compared to other biomes that range from 2 (for Cerrado, Silveira 2004) to # of mature 64 78 25 8 3 approximately 6 individuals/100 km2 (Panta- individuals nal, Soisalo & Cavalcanti 2006).
CATnews Special Issue 7 Spring 2012 Caatinga
Subpopulations The jaguar population in Caatinga is very fragmented. This led us to define the jaguar distribution into five subpopulations (Table 1). If connectivity exists between subpopu- lations, it will be restricted to only three of them: 1 Boqueirão da Onça with 2 Capivara- Confusões, and 1 with 3 Chapada Diamanti- na. But the connections between these three subpopulations must be investigated. The Subpopulations 4 Raso da Catarina and 5 Bom Jesus Lapa are definitively isolated from the main block (1, 2, and 3) by human deve- lopment. There are no records of connectivity between these two and the other subpopu- lations.
Subpopulation 1 – Boqueirão Onça This is the second most important area for jaguar in Caatinga. Although it has only three protected areas (the Morro do Chapéu State Fig.4. Aerial view of Boqueirao da Onça habitat during the wet season (Photo R. C. de Park, the Gruta dos Brejões and the Lago do Paula). Sobradinho Environmental Protection Areas), it is one of the most continuously preserved will connect with the Cerrado’s subpopulati- Subpopulations 4 – Raso da Catarina and areas of the Caatinga. This characteristic ons which are not in as critical condition as 5 – Bom Jesus Lapa made the creation of the Boqueirão da Onça the Caatinga’s. Jaguar records in this area These subpopulations are small and totally National Park with nearly 8,000 km2 possible are mainly located in the protected areas isolated from the others; jaguar records are (Fig. 4). This subpopulation was scientifical- and their boundaries. However the species rare and most are related to livestock con- 21 ly discovered only in 2005. It was subject to was detected in areas near the São Fran- flicts. Both subpopulations have a high proba- pelt trade for decades until the mid-1990s. cisco river (south of Sobradinho lake) which bility to disappear in short time if persecution Currently animals are persecuted due to live- confirms the potential connection with Sub- or habitat loss become more severe. stock losses. The increase in mining activities population 1. The three records obtained in 2007 demon- (Fig. 5) as well as other development related In contrast to the subpopulation across the strate the vulnerability of Subpopulation 5: to energy generation and agribusiness pose a river, the jaguars in this area are mainly thre- if it becomes totally isolated it will likely dis- major threat to jaguar conservation. atened with habitat loss due to deforestation appear in the short-term. However, there are Due to intense human development to the for the supply of the charcoal industry (Fig. 6) south and east of this subpopulation, there is and conversion of natural areas into agricul- a strong belief that this subpopulation does tural fields. Approaching the Cerrado biome not connect with the Subpopulations 3 and (2/3 of the Serra das Confusões National 4. On the other hand potential connectivity Park are within the Cerrado’s boundaries), exists with Subpopulation 2. Although the habitat alteration becomes more severe. São Francisco River forms a natural barrier, One of the most threatening factors for this during the dry season sandbanks exposed in subpopulation is the locally heavy prey base the middle of the river might allow dispersers hunting and the persecution of predators due to cross in the southern end of the subpopu- to livestock losses. lation. The possibility of even a temporary connection between subpopulations would Subpopulation 3 – Chapada Diamantina sustain both subpopulations for longer peri- This subpopulation is sustained mainly by ods since both areas are the most suitable the southern portion where the Chapada Di- ones for jaguars in the biome and the range. amantina National Park is located. The sub- population also encompasses the Lagoa Ita- Subpopulation 2 – Capivara-Confusões parica and Marimbu-Iraquara Environmental This subpopulation defined by the boundari- Protected Areas. Little is known about jaguar es of the Serra da Capivara and Serra das status in this subpopulation. The known in- Confusões National Parks as well as the Ser- formation is restricted to isolated records ra Branca Ecological Station between them from livestock conflicts. Persecution due to Fig. 5. Increasing mining activities in the is the most important for jaguar conservation these conflicts and habitat alteration are the Caatinga are destroying important jaguar in Caatinga. This is the subpopulation that major threats for this subpopulation. habitat (Photo C. Campos).
Jaguar in Brazil de Paula et al.
netheless depends on the water supplies even if it is in small quantities (Vicente et al. 2003). A detour of the main water body in the entire biome would significantly alter the hydrodynamics in the local watershe- ds and consequently affect local habitat. By having a drastic impact on vegetation, especially in the composition of forested areas, the suitable habitat for jaguars in the future could be significantly reduced and consequently cause extirpation of smaller subpopulations or extreme fluctuations of Caatinga’s populations.
Other life history information Jaguars apparently show a strong preference for dense vegetation cover in Caatinga and this habitat is restricted to only a few pre- served areas throughout the entire biome. Further information is required in order to un- Fig. 6. Deforestation for charcoal production is an important threat to jaguars in the derstand more life history information. Caatinga (Photo C. Campos). Threats Jaguar population decline can be caused by records of jaguars in adjacent subpopulations enforcement have successfully inhibited prey habitat loss due to constant disturbance and of the Cerrado population to the south and loss due to local hunting activity. Water ponds fragmentation (Sanderson et al. 2002). Con- west. If Subpopulation 4 effectively connects maintained by the park during the dry season flict with humans due to livestock depredati- 22 with the Cerrado’s subpopulations, then it can have apparently attracted and possibly incre- on and the resulting jaguar persecution can survive for longer periods. On the other hand ased both predator and prey numbers. Data also be a cause of decline (Cavalcanti 2003). the Subpopulation 4 is totally isolated by a from the mid-1980s indicate an estimate of 6 Both are the main causes affecting jaguar barrier of human development from mining jaguars in this same protected area. However conservation in the Caatinga. companies, federal highway construction and past research did not evaluate directly the ja- agricultural activity between this subpopula- guar population in the same way as Astete Habitat loss tion and the 1. (2008). This later scientific data indicated an About 27 million people currently live in the estimate of at least 21 individuals. biome, where 70% of the original vegetation Population trends Considering the two decades of improved ma- has been altered. Human population density The Caatinga’s jaguar stable population was nagement and the information available, the is homogeneous, occurring at levels below believed to be restricted to Subpopulation 2 park‘s jaguar population shows an increase of 100 hab./km2 (Sampaio & Batista 2004). A (Capivara-Confusões) until records over the about 200%. Even in the only area with study large portion of this population bases its sur- past ten years indicated other possible sites results, population trend data is not robust. vival on natural resources. (Boqueirão da Onça and Morro do Chapéu On the other hand, local people‘s perceptions About 7% of the biome is covered with PAs. regions). The Chapada Diamantina National indicate that there is a decline in the jaguar The conservation of these areas is intimately Park and Raso da Catarina Ecological Sta- population in the majority of the subpopula- related to efforts that prevent desertification, tion were considered potential areas of oc- tions due to hunting for the pelt trade until a serious condition of the semi-arid areas of currence; but specialists doubt whether or not the mid-1990s and the persecution due to Caatinga. The deforestation and the main- jaguars consistently occupy these areas due livestock losses. Scientific information is re- tenance of irrigated cultures accelerate the to the few recent records of its presence. Little quired in order to have a better understanding desertification process by inducing soil salini- research has been conducted in the Caatinga of population trends. zation. In Brazil 62% of the areas susceptible in general and specially with an elusive mam- to desertification are located in the Caatinga, mal such as the jaguar. The only area where Extreme fluctuations and large portions of these are significantly jaguars have been studied is the Serra da Ca- Although apparently no immediate impact altered by deforestation or natural habitat pivara National Park. Astete (2008) discussed causes extreme fluctuations presently, the conversion into agriculture fields (MMA – several aspects of a possible increase in ja- São Francisco River transposition has been SRHPB 2007). guar numbers following an observed increase suggested by specialists as one of the main The identification of reserves of iron and other in prey abundance. The author based his com- environmental disasters of the century in minerals including precious stones in some parisons on research reported by Wolff (2001) Brazil since the damage will affect the en- regions of Caatinga is worrisome because of in the same area. It looks as if management tire watershed. The vegetation of Caatinga potentially devastating extraction methods. practices such as increasing park patrols and which is adapted to long dry seasons no- Charcoal has been extracted quite intensively
CATnews Special Issue 7 Spring 2012 Caatinga in some regions, resulting in large deforested return from their hunting ventures with more areas due to the lack of sustainable manage- than one dead jaguar. At the time the demand ment and law enforcement. for jaguar pelts was high especially for sales to Western Europe (Broad 1988). At present, Habitat alteration albeit to a lesser degree, there still exists the Historically, the agriculture practiced in the demand for jaguar skins (Fig. 7) by large entre- semi-arid region is nomadic, itinerate or mi- preneurs visiting some of Caatinga’s regions. gratory. Farmers in this region remove natural vegetation, use fires and cultivate the soil Locations for a short period. However, due to a lack of The habitat alteration or loss and consequent- planning tradition, agricultural practices end ly its fragmentation poses major threats for up being a source of disorderly territorial oc- the jaguar population and their distribution cupation causing highly negative impacts on in the Caatinga. The two southern areas of the environment (MMA 2002). Within the last the jaguar range (Subpopulations 3 and 5; decades, important changes have remodeled Fig. 3) present an accelerated degree of ha- the territorial reality of the northeast, altering bitat disturbance due to the expansion of the characteristics ot the man-nature relati- agribusinesses. The first doesn‘t contain any onship of the region (MMA 2005). protected area, and it is already being wide- New agricultural technologies developed to ly exploited for agriculture, cattle ranching, Fig. 7. Hunted jaguar discovered in 2008 overcome difficulties such as the low water tourism and fishery. The proximity of several (Photo C. Campos). availability and intense heat characteristics mineral deposits increases the underground of the Caatinga, have enabled the growth of mining enterprises in the Capada Diamantina hunting. Research data points to the lack of areas exploited not only for agriculture but area with gold, diamond, emerald and other this management tool. also for livestock production. In the western precious stones, marble and others being ex- 2. Given the need for the maintenance of the portions of the biome the growth of areas tensively extracted. The search for more sour- gene flow among jaguar populations, the cultivated with soybeans and other monocul- ces of minerals is attracting more exploration creation of an ecological corridor including tures threaten the transition areas of Caatin- and enterprises to this area with uncontrolled the states of Piauí, Pernambuco and Bahia is ga-Cerrado. extraction, a constant threat due to ineffec- being evaluated; it would encompass an area 23 tive law enforcement. The increasing of mi- of 2 million hectares. With the creation of this Loss of prey base ning activities can also be observed in the corridor the government hopes to direct con- Wildlife hunting for subsistence is culturally area of the Subpopulation 1. More recently, servation actions that will allow for the main- significant throughout the Caatinga (Coimbra the energy companies became interested in tenance of jaguar populations in the biome. Filho et al. 2004). This has critical implica- this area as well because of its potential for 3. A new national park with full protection tions for the conservation of many species, wind power. status has been proposed and its creation co- since local populations have been decreasing The presence of highways with intense traffic vering an area of approximately 8,000 km² is at alarming rates. Several species such as ar- to the south and east of Subpopulation 1 can in progress. madillos, peccaries, deer and agoutis among be a threat to the distribution of the species, others are targeted by hunters. Although further isolating this important subpopulation Research projects there is a lack of a detailed study on wildlife from other potential areas. Bahia/Piauí hunting in the Caatinga, local residents per- In the northwest (Subpopulation 2) there Conservação da onça-pintada (Panthera onca) ceive a reduction in abundance of the over- are three nearby protected areas which are no Sub-Médio São Francisco: Estabelecimen- hunted species in several areas. Although however discontinuous. The jaguar disper- to do Corredor de Fauna no Nordeste Brasi- these prey species are well distributed within sal could be guaranteed with the viability of leiro. Coordinators: Ronaldo Morato/Rogério the biome, their excessive hunting can drasti- natural corridors that would guarantee indi- de Paula, CENAP/ICMBio. The goal of the pro- cally reduce populations within a few years, vidual movement. However, predators moving ject is to generate ecological information on if education and law enforcement strategies through human land might cause additional Caatinga’s jaguars and guarantee a minimum are not implemented. conflict when the scarcity of food leads jagu- viable population through the creation and ars to prey upon livestock. Conflicts between management of a Caatinga’s Protected Area Jaguar hunting jaguars and humans can be found in all the Network system (www.icmbio.gov.br/cenap). Currently the majority of jaguar hunting inci- five subpopulations. dences in the Caatinga are related to retali- The loss of the prey base due to subsistence Piauí ation for livestock depredation. Several in- hunting also is a threat for jaguars in all subpo- Programa de monitoramento de longa du- dividuals are also killed during opportunistic pulations. In some areas the local trade market ração da população de Onças-Pintadas e suas encounters with hunters in search of other of wild species for meat use is extensive. presas naturais no PN Serra da Capivara, PN species. According to some local residents‘ Serra das Confusões, PN Nascentes do Rio accounts jaguar numbers in the region were Conservation measures Parnaíba e ESEC Uruçuí-Una. Coordinator: considerably larger 30-40 years ago than 1. This species needs effective increase in Leandro Silveira–Instituto para Conservação they are now. It was common for hunters to law enforcement to prevent or limit wildlife da Onça-Pintada.
Jaguar in Brazil de Paula et al.
Sanderson E. W., Chetkiewicz C. L. B., Medellin R. A., Rabinowitz A. R., Redford K. H., Robinson J. G. & Taber A. 2002. A geographic analysis of the conservation status and distribution of jaguars on the basis of their areas of distributi- on. In El Jaguar en el nuevo milenio. Medellin, R.A., Chetkiewicz, C., Rabinowitz, A., Redford, K.H., Robinson, J.G., Sanderson, E. and Taber, A. (Eds). Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico/Wildlife Conservation Society. Mexico D.F., pp. 551–600. Silveira L. 2004. Ecologia comparada e Conser- vação da Onça-pintada (Panthera onca) e Onça- parda (Puma concolor), no Cerrado e Pantanal. Tese de Doutorado em Biologia Animal. Univer- sidade de Brasília, Brasil. 240 pp. Silveira L., Jacomo A. T. A., Asteste S., Sollmann R., Torres N. M., Furtado M. M. & Marinho- Filho J. 2010. Density of the Near Threatened jaguar Panthera onca in the caatinga of north- Fig. 8. Camera trap picture from the Caatinga (Photo Archive CENAP). eastern Brazil. Oryx 44, 104-109. Soisalo, M.; Cavalcanti, S. 2006. Estimating the The goal of the project is to elaborate and IBGE - Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatísti- density of a jaguar population in the Brazilian start a long-term monitoring program (Fig. 8) ca, 2004. Mapa de biomas do Brasil: primeira Pantanal using camera-traps and capture–re- of the jaguar population and its natural prey aproximação. IBGE/MMA, Brasília. Available capture sampling in combination with GPS base (www.jaguar.org.br). at
CATnews Special Issue 7 Spring 2012