Warrenton, VA – In time for World Wetlands Day, Rainforest Trust and Panthera Brazil, have completed purchase of a 24,640-acre ranch that will be converted into a wildlife reserve protecting Brazil’s Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland.

Home to the planet’s highest density of Jaguars, the Pantanal in southwestern Brazil serves as one of the most critical conservation landscapes for the elusive big cat. As a critical link in a Jaguar corridor across Central and South America, the new reserve will play a strategic role in protecting not only the Pantanal’s Jaguars but other diverse wildlife populations, as well, including Hyacinth Macaws, Giant Otters and South American Tapirs.

Pantanal Jaguar © Jeff Zack

Hyacinth Macaw © Larry Thompson

Giant Otter © Larry Thompson

Situated near the Cuiaba River, the reserve will serve as a base for scientists to implement a conservation project for Jaguars that will focus on mitigating human-jaguar conflict, establishing new model conservation ranches, developing guidelines for and establishing Jaguar eco-tourism operations, and continuing the long-term monitoring of Jaguars in the Pantanal.

“We are extremely grateful to all our donors that have helped to secure one of the most important sites for Jaguars in the Americas,” said Rainforest Trust CEO, Dr. Paul Salaman. “With only a fraction of the Pantanal protected and numerous threats facing the survival of the Jaguar, this strategic land acquisition heralds a major conservation victory for all wildlife found in the region.”

Today, Jaguars in the Pantanal and throughout Latin America are threatened by loss and fragmentation of habitat; direct hunting by people, like ranchers, who view the species as a threat to their livelihoods; and lack of natural prey due to overhunting by local people.

When available, the purchase of land in regions like the Pantanal is a proven and surefire strategy to protect wildlife like Jaguars, and the thousands of flora and fauna with which they share their home. Implementation of replicable conservation ranches on such land, where humans and jaguars coexist, further protects threatened species.

This project was made possible thanks to the generous support of Duncan and Ellen McFarland, Luanne Lemmer and Eric Veach, Brett Byers, and many other donors.

Rainforest Trust is a nonprofit conservation organization focused on purchasing and protecting threatened rainforests for endangered species. Since its founding in 1988, Rainforest Trust has saved nearly 8 million acres of rainforests and other tropical habitats in 20 countries by partnering with local conservation leaders and indigenous communities.