| Stop the illegal hunt on wild jaguars |
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Background: Although killing jaguars is since long time forbidden by Brazilian law, the jaguar-killings continue every day. Why? Starting in the early 80's, drastic deforestation began to take place in several states in Brazil for the purpose of cattle-farming. Since 1950, the total jaguar habitat has been slashed by 65%! Around the newly made cattle-farming areas in forests and jungles, all animals try to survive, among the jaguar. Sometimes jaguars do attack the nearby and easy prey: cows and calves. Humans also fear the jaguar which is another reason for increased jaguar-killings. Still in many villages in Brazil where cattle and wildlife is abound, one or more jaguar-hunters make a living when hired by cattle-farmers. They have to show the head of the jaguar and on average get paid the value of 2 cows. What does BJF do about it? BJF and its partner JCF, will work with local farmers in Central Brazil with an incentive program that allows farmers to fully refrain from killing jaguars that may try to prey on their livestock. JCF compensates the farmer the value of cattle preyed by jaguar. Therefore cattlefarmers will not need to hire a jaguar hunter anymore to kill the jaguar. The cattle-owner need to prove that the kill of their cow was made by jaguar and not by any other reason. It is relatively easy to determine whether the cow was preyed by a jaguar or not: it will leave 2 deep punctures in the neck or skull. JCF will pay out the cattle-farmer around $ 150 for a calf and $ 180 for an adult cow. Mostly all cattle-farmers have a strong bond and respect for jaguars. When they do not lose money, they are eager to cooperate with the JCF compensation-program and refrain from killing jaguars. |
  Click on any of the pictures in this column to view a BBC video-fragment of a farmer in Brazil who is involved in the JCF Compensation Program. |
