Meet Our Animals > Jaguar

Quick Facts

Native to Southern Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Panama, El Salvador, Uraguay, Guatemala, Peru, Columbia, Bolivia, Venezuela, Surinam, and French Guyana

Primary Diet Deer, wild pigs, tapirs, capybara, fish, and even tortoises and small alligators

Adult Weight Males 120 to 350 pounds; Females 80-190 pounds

Lifespan 12 to 16 years

Status Near Threatened

Jaguar

“Jaguar” comes from the native Indian name ‘yaguara,’ meaning ‘a beast that kills its prey with one bound.’ Jaguars are often found near water. They are good swimmers and frequently hunt near bodies of water.