Video, Pics: Meet The Living Desert's New Jaguar

The following was submitted for publication on behalf of The Living Desert:

The Living Desert is pleased to announce the arrival of a beautiful new jaguar to the zoo’s 400+ wildlife population.  

The jaguar, a male named “Memo”, was transferred by the zoo’s animal curator and veterinarian to The Living Desert from a facility in Panama. The jaguar had been confiscated by Panamanian authorities from a home where it was being raised illegally as a pet.  The Living Desert was contacted to participate in this rescue effort.

“Receiving this jaguar is truly a momentous occasion here at The Living Desert,” says Stacey Johnson, President  & CEO of The Living Desert, who also serves as the Species Survival Plan® Coordinator and Jaguar Studbook Keeper for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). “Through my work with the Species Survival Plan, I’ve learned how important scientifically managed breeding is to the survival of the species. Our hope is to successfully breed this new jaguar with our existing female jaguar, Majia which will significantly improve our genetic pool.”

He was given the name Memo, when translated from Spanish means “Bill,” in honor of the two men who made the Monarch of the Desert exhibit possible through their generous donations, Bill Fries and Bill Farley. Since his arrival in mid-April, Memo has been under special care and quarantine to monitor his health, well-being, and behavior in the new surroundings. 

Now that he has acclimated to his new home, he will share the jaguar exhibit with Magia. Introductions have gone well and all signs point to a friendly relationship.

Johnson has been involved with the Species Survival Plan® (SSP) since 1996 and has served as the SSP Coordinator and Jaguar Studbook Keeper for the AZA for six years.  The Jaguar SSP consists of 39 zoos, including The Living Desert, and is dedicated to the long term management and conservation of jaguars. Their mission is primarily education of ecosystem conservation, and maintaining a healthy population of zoo jaguars so visitors can become aware of the largest cat in the Americas.

Memo is 1 year, 8 months old and weighs approximately 120 lbs.  

Jaguars are the largest cat in the Americas, on average weighing from 100 to 250 pounds.  Head and body length, without the tail, may be up to six feet. 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.” Compared to a leopard, the jaguar is stocky and more powerfully built. It’s been said that the jaguar is built for power, not speed. Although true, this cat also demonstrates surprising stealth and grace in movement.

Jaguars are listed as endangered on the United States Fish and Wildlife Service endangered species list and a “near threatened” species on the International Union for the Conservation (IUCN). In the wild, habitat loss and fragmentation of wild areas and hunting by ranchers are the major threats facing the jaguar.

A carnivore, the jaguar is equipped to exploit large and small prey, in water and on land. They’ll eat a wide variety of prey including deer, snakes, crocodiles, fish, birds, and other small mammals. The jaguar is noted for killing prey via a crushing bite to the skull. Its large canines and powerful jaws are also capable of breaking open the shells of turtles and tortoises. The name “jaguar” is believed to be derived from the Native American word yaguar, which means “he who kills with one leap.”

The public is invited to meet Memo this Saturday, July 6th at 9am during our Zoo Chill Day.

Schedule for the July 6th Zoo Chill Day:

Saturday, July 6th

• 9:00am – 9:30am: Meet our new jaguar, “Memo”. Plus jaguar enrichment (frozen treat)
• 9:00am – 11:00am: Free trackless train rides for kids at the Discovery Center.
• 10:00am – 11:00am: The warthog will receive special frozen treats in his exhibit on the Africa side of the park and park guests will receive free popsicles in Village WaTuTu.

*Free personal sized coolers - “zoolers” – filled with bottles of Aquafina water are being given away to the first 200 adults who come to the park (with paid admission).  The free bottles of Aquafina water are donated by Pepsi.