Jaguar populations are on the decline, prompting researchers to explore artificial insemination as a potential solution for the species’ preservation. They selected five healthy jaguars for this study, including one named Bianca. In November 2018, scientists performed insemination on her using the AI Embryo Transfer method developed by experts at the Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW). A cub was born in February at Brazil’s environmental organization Mata Ciliar, and it appeared to be healthy. However, it disappeared from the maternity den two days later. The researchers suspect that it may have been eaten by the mother.
Bianca and Her New Baby
“Sadly, after two days, the cub passed away,” stated a representative from Mata Ciliar. “We don’t know why and cannot say if it was killed by the mother because it was not seen on the monitors on the second day. Bianca was a first-time mother, and this may have influenced the outcome of the event. The veterinary team could not perform a necropsy because the baby had already been consumed.”
According to Dr. Lindsey Vansandt, theriogenologist and the lead scientist on the project, filial cannibalism is not unusual among carnivores.
Artificial Insemination for Jaguars
As a result, artificial insemination could still play a role in conserving jaguars. “The jaguar is the last of the seven species of large-sized felines to undergo artificial insemination (AI),” stated Dr. Bill Swanson, the director of animal research at CREW. “The birth of this cub is an important historical landmark. It invigorates the possibility of the use of assisted reproduction as a management tool that increases the genetic variability of (captive and wild) populations and the conservation of these endangered iconic cats.”
“An Important Milestone”
The laparoscopic artificial insemination (AI) technique was developed by CREW, which had previously applied it to other wild cat species in need of conservation. “By using a systematic research strategy, we were able to improve our understanding of the jaguar’s unique reproductive biology and make species-specific modifications to our standard AI approach,” Vansandt stated. He added, “The jaguar is the last of the seven big cat species to be produced by AI. The birth of this cub is an important milestone and invigorates the possibility of using assisted reproduction as a management tool to conserve this iconic cat.”
A Bittersweet Experiment
After giving birth to her single cub, Bianca initially appeared to care for it well for a few days, as observed through remote video monitoring. However, after two days, the cub vanished. “From a scientific perspective, we’re celebrating the fact that the cub was born healthy and that the AI was a success,” stated Vansandt. “It’s disappointing that the cub did not survive longer, but it’s not uncommon for carnivores, especially first-time mothers, to behave this way with their offspring.” Despite the tragic outcome of the experiment, the researchers remain optimistic about its implications for the species.
Jaguar Repopulation
In 2021, scientists from the United States and Brazil conducted a new experiment involving Bianca and another female jaguar named Tabatinga. However, the findings of this study have not been disclosed to the public.
Vansandt clarified the rationale behind repeating the procedure: “The population sort of becomes smaller and smaller, and then you get inbreeding which has lots of bad consequences.” She continued, “If we can take sperm from one male and inseminate a female from another location, we can keep their gene flow moving and keep the population more healthy.”
A “Near Threatened” Species
Jaguar populations have been decreasing primarily due to habitat destruction and poaching, resulting in their classification as “near threatened” in Latin America. They are the third-largest species of cat globally. Jaguars inhabit 18 countries, ranging from Mexico to Argentina, and can be found in savannahs, shrublands, and forests. Approximately half of their total population lives in Brazil.