Jaguar cub rehabilitating in the Amazon rainforest

The Amazonian enclosure is roughly the size of one and a half soccer fields and gives Xamá plenty of space, a large dam and huge trees to explore.

Since his relocation to the jaguar habitat rehabilitation enclosure in early 2023, he has been monitored by our partners the Onçafari Project who have provided the camera trap footage of Xamá.

The camera traps help the team remotely monitor the enclosure 24 hours a day. By following his behaviour, we've been able to notice that he's most active between 6pm and 4am - with a few appearances during the day.

We’ve also seen that he is starting to receive visits from snakes, lizards, birds, tapirs and various other species that pass through or past the enclosure.

When Xamã big and strong enough to be reintroduced to the wild, he will be released into a suitable and safe area along with a radio collar that will allow remote monitoring for at least one year. This will make Xamã the first male jaguar to have been successfully rescued and reintroduced to the Amazon rainforest.

If the reintroduction is to be a success, Xamã needs to improve his natural behaviours and skills like hunting. This is fundamental for him to be ready to be reintroduced into the Amazon.

Xamã is fed pork, beef and chicken every other day by our team. At around 1 year old, with permanent teeth, he has also begun to train his instincts and carried out hunting exercises for live prey in the enclosure.As part of his rehabilitation process the team are alternating meals he is provided.

Thanks to your support, Xamã has the opportunity to be the first male jaguar to return to the lush Amazon rainforest.