Through a continuous monitoring with camera traps, technicians from the Río Pilcomayo National Park in Formosa were able to record the presence of a new male jaguar (Panthera onca) in this protected area.
The discovery, made between March and April 2025, marks the third record of the species in the park since 2018, reinforcing the importance of this site for the conservation of South America’s most emblematic feline.
A jaguar with no previous history in the region
Experts from the NEA Regional Directorate of Conservation of the National Parks Administration (APN) and the Jaguar Project analyzed the images obtained and confirmed that the individual had not been previously registered in the area.
It is a male, preliminarily identified as MACHO10 (M10), a significant advancement in the monitoring of the species.
Importance of systematic monitoring
The detection of this individual highlights the value of systematic and continuous monitoring in protected areas, a task carried out by:
- Park Rangers, responsible for the surveillance and registration of fauna.
- Technicians and researchers, who analyze the presence and status of the individuals.
- Collaborators of the Jaguar Project, specialized in population studies of the species.
The use of camera traps is crucial for collecting photographic evidence without interfering with the natural behavior of the animals.
Background of the jaguar in the region
The first record of a jaguar in the Argentine Chaco region occurred in 2018, thanks to monitoring carried out by the Conservation Biology Laboratory of CECOAL-CONICET.
The individual, an adult male, was photographed again in 2019 with the collaboration of the Jaguar Project and the Institute of Diversity and Animal Ecology (IDEA-CONICET).
Since then, there had been no new confirmations of presence of the species in the Río Pilcomayo National Park. This makes the recent discovery a hopeful news for conservation.
Campaign to choose the name of the individual
To strengthen community awareness and participation, a citizen voting campaign will be launched in the coming days with the aim of assigning a name to the new jaguar detected in the park.
This initiative seeks to involve society in the monitoring and protection of the species, considered a Natural Monument both nationally and provincially.
The challenge of conserving the jaguar in the Gran Chaco
The jaguar is a critically endangered species in the Chaco region, due to habitat loss, poaching, and prey scarcity.
Therefore, the Río Pilcomayo National Park represents a key area for its conservation, offering protection and scientific monitoring to ensure the survival of the population.
