IUCN NL partner Earth League International publishes comic about jaguar trafficking

Earth League International, one of our partners in the project Operation Jaguar, released a graphic story about jaguar trafficking in South America. In countries such as Bolivia, Suriname and Guyana, jaguars are increasingly being poached for their teeth, bones and other body parts. The graphic story draws attention to this problem.

In order to view this movie you have to accept ‘Social media and advertising’ cookies. Click here to change your cookie settings.

Chinese medicine

The poaching and illegal trade in jaguars appears to be driven almost entirely by Chinese demand for jewelry and medicine from processed jaguar body parts. The most valued and trafficked parts of jaguars are their fangs. These are considered valid substitutes to tiger canines. Chinese medicine ascribes medical properties to tiger bones and teeth. Jaguars are listed in Appendix I of CITES, as they are endangered species; the increased poaching is becoming a severe threat to their survival.

Operation Jaguar

The project Operation Jaguar wants to put an end to poaching and illegal trade in jaguars. Liliana Jauregui, senior expert environmental justice at IUCN NL, explains: ‘By exposing criminal networks, and improving investigation and prosecution by authorities, we want to combat poaching and illegal trade in jaguars. We also work on prevention by keeping poachers out of jaguar habitats to allow this top predator to continue playing its important role in the ecosystem.’

Earth League International’s Executive Director, Andrea Crosta, adds: ‘Given the sensitive nature of our work, the format of a graphic story works well. It shows the public exactly what we are doing, and how, without jeopardizing field operations and the safety of ELI team members.’

About Operation Jaguar

The jaguar on of the five big cats. Although it is a protected species, in countries like Bolivia, Suriname and Guyana jaguars are increasingly being poached for their teeth, bones and other body parts. The project Operation Jaguar wants to end this. Operation Jaguar is a joint project of IUCN NL, IFAW and Earth League International and is made possible by the Dutch Postcode Lottery.