Arizona Just Proved Jaguars Aren't Extinct in the U.S.

A trail camera in remote southern Arizona has captured multiple sightings of a grown male jaguar—called “Jaguar Number Four” by researchers—crossing into the United States through the San Rafael Valley wildlife corridor. His appearance is a rare and thrilling event, signaling that parts of the Southwest may still support one of the world’s most elusive big cats.

A Glimmer of Hope, But Their Migration Path is Under Threat

The jaguar was photographed at least five times since early July by the University of Arizona’s Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center. This isn’t his first appearance—he’s believed to be the same cat spotted in 2023 and early 2024. His ability to navigate north from Mexico into Arizona shows that this corridor is still functioning, at least for now.

However, wildlife advocates fear his path may soon be blocked. A 27-mile border wall expansion, slated to begin later this month, would cut directly through this key migration route. The Center for Biological Diversity and Conservation CATalyst has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, challenging environmental waivers that allow construction without the usual reviews.

Why This Matters to Our Planet

Jaguars once roamed as far north as the Grand Canyon and east into Louisiana, but in the past 30 years, only a handful of males have been documented in the U.S.—always in Arizona and always wandering in from Mexico. The last known female jaguar in the U.S. was killed in 1963.

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