Raising Cubs - Did You Know?

When jaguars are first born, they are blind, deaf, and defenseless, so their mother must use all of her effort to protect them. During their first five months, the mother jaguar will not allow any other jaguars near them. She will nurse them at first and then later regurgitate her meals so that they get a taste for meat. Mother will also spend this time teaching her cubs how to survive, including basic skills like hunting, storing food, swimming, climbing, and how to avoid other jaguars. The cubs will not begin to make their own kills until after 6 months and will not go with their mother on hunts until the first year has passed. Once they've reached two years old, the young jaguars will leave their mother's territory to go find their own, beginning life as adults.

Celebrate World Jaguar Day on April 10!