Boy or Girl? All Eyes on Possibly Pregnant 'Magia' The Jaguar at Living Desert

Spring is in bloom with possibly more babies on the way as The Living Desert’s Jaguar, Magia, is on maternity watch, announced Allen Monroe, The Living Desert’s President/CEO.

Magia first came to The Living Desert from the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, Texas in March 2011 as a cub. The father-to-be, Memo is almost three years old and was rescued from a facility in Panama in June 2013.

“These two jaguars were brought together as part of the Species Survival Plan says Monroe. “We are excited about the possibility of them having cubs and should be able to confirm her status in the next week. With a first time Mom, we are cautious but optimistic that Magia’s natural instincts will help things go smoothly.”

A jaguar’s gestation lasts between 90 and 110 days and she can give birth to from one to five cubs, but usually there are two or three cubs. The jaguars separate after mating and the females provide all parenting. The mother will not tolerate the presence of adult males until the cubs are on their own at about 18 months.

Often referred to as the most elusive creatures on earth, Jaguars are the largest cat native to the Americas and the only “roaring” cat in North America. Jaguars weigh from 100 to 250 pounds and are up to six feet in body length, not including the tail. A jaguar’s coat color ranges from pale yellow to reddish brown, with a much paler underbelly. It is recognizable by its distinctive black spots on the neck, body and limbs called “rosettes.” They are very rarely seen in the wild and live solitary predatory lifestyles.

Jaguars are listed as endangered on the U.S. endangered species list and a “near threatened” species on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In the wild, habitat loss and fragmentation of wild areas along with human persecution are the major threats facing the jaguar.

The Living Desert is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with last admission at 4 p.m. General admission is $17.25 Adults; $15.75 Seniors and Military; $8.75 Children 3-12; Children under 3 Free.