For wildlife lovers across the globe "" especially fans of big cats "" South America stands out as a dream destination. Visitors will find pristine jungle environments and one of the most breathtaking and beautiful animals on the planet: the majestic Jaguar. Safari trips into the Pantanal, the tropical wetland area that extends through Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, offer a chance to see this elusive felid in its natural habitat, a rare treat for many, as it is an animal that often keeps out of sight. Understanding its daily activities can help visitors appreciate it all the better, so read on for a glimpse into the life of the Jaguar.
Early Morning
The animal is neither truly nocturnal or diurnal, but is instead a crepuscular animal, meaning it is most active at dusk and dawn, when it is not too hot and the dim light provides effective camouflage for its dappled coat. On a Jaguar safari, expeditions to sight this graceful predator will often take place in the early morning for this very reason. They hunt by patrolling their home [ranges], moving quietly along forest paths or along waterways, listening out for prey. When the cat locates a quarry, it will stalk it before ambushing it quickly and efficiently, usually from under cover, taking advantage of the prey"s blind spots and often killing with a single bite or blow.
Daytime
As the day gets hotter, conserving energy becomes more important, and like many large mammals, Jaguars become more inactive during this time. They will often spend the hottest hours sleeping on sturdy tree branches, which offer shelter and security for these agile tree-climbing cats. They will also often spend some of the day swimming and playing in water, so those visiting the region on a Jaguar safari may still have some luck on daytime outings. They are water-loving cats, and will use pools or rivers to cool down as well as to hunt for fish. During times of especially abundant prey, they may also hunt in the day, and females with cubs will take their young on daily hunts in the early months of their life after weaning.
Evening and Night
With the coming of evening, as the forest becomes cooler and darker, they become active once more, making dusk another fruitful time to set out on a Jaguar safari. Stalking their territories as before, they locate prey and attack. The exact patterns of their behaviour later at night are still something of a mystery to those who study them, as they are elusive at the best of times and harder than ever to monitor in the dark, where the light from recording or tracking equipment could alert them to human presence.
Early Morning
The animal is neither truly nocturnal or diurnal, but is instead a crepuscular animal, meaning it is most active at dusk and dawn, when it is not too hot and the dim light provides effective camouflage for its dappled coat. On a Jaguar safari, expeditions to sight this graceful predator will often take place in the early morning for this very reason. They hunt by patrolling their home [ranges], moving quietly along forest paths or along waterways, listening out for prey. When the cat locates a quarry, it will stalk it before ambushing it quickly and efficiently, usually from under cover, taking advantage of the prey"s blind spots and often killing with a single bite or blow.
Daytime
As the day gets hotter, conserving energy becomes more important, and like many large mammals, Jaguars become more inactive during this time. They will often spend the hottest hours sleeping on sturdy tree branches, which offer shelter and security for these agile tree-climbing cats. They will also often spend some of the day swimming and playing in water, so those visiting the region on a Jaguar safari may still have some luck on daytime outings. They are water-loving cats, and will use pools or rivers to cool down as well as to hunt for fish. During times of especially abundant prey, they may also hunt in the day, and females with cubs will take their young on daily hunts in the early months of their life after weaning.
Evening and Night
With the coming of evening, as the forest becomes cooler and darker, they become active once more, making dusk another fruitful time to set out on a Jaguar safari. Stalking their territories as before, they locate prey and attack. The exact patterns of their behaviour later at night are still something of a mystery to those who study them, as they are elusive at the best of times and harder than ever to monitor in the dark, where the light from recording or tracking equipment could alert them to human presence.