A female jaguar named Yaguara was released into Noel Kempff Mercado National Park on June 5, 2025, after nearly two years in captivity, marking the first successful rehabilitation and release of a jaguar in Bolivia. The release, led by the wild-animal rescue center Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi (CIWY), offers new hope for the country's critically threatened jaguar population.
Background: A Cub Orphaned by Wildfires
Yaguara was rescued as an eight-month-old cub in August 2024 during Bolivia's worst recorded wildfire season, which burned more than 10% of the country's surface area. She was handed over to CIWY after being orphaned by the fires. For nearly two years, CIWY staff raised her at the Ambue Ari reserve, a 1,000-hectare (2,500-acre) jungle surrounded by ranchland. The reserve is home to various rescued wild species, including macaws, toucans, howler monkeys, and several big cats such as jaguars, pumas, ocelots, and margays.
First of Its Kind in Bolivia
Before Yaguara's release, no jaguar had ever been successfully rehabilitated and released into the wild in Bolivia. Many captive jaguars cannot be released because they become too accustomed to humans or lack survival skills. For example, a male jaguar named Kusiy at Ambue Ari will remain in captivity for life after being rescued as a pet at three months old. "Yaguara has changed the history of jaguar conservation in this country," said Iván Márquez, the biologist overseeing post-release monitoring.
Threats to Jaguars in Bolivia
Jaguars are classified as near-threatened globally by the WWF, but in Bolivia they are considered vulnerable, with discussions underway to downgrade their status to endangered. Poachers kill an average of 61 jaguars per year in Bolivia, the highest number globally, with teeth and body parts trafficked primarily to the Chinese market. Habitat loss from wildfires—many intentionally set for agriculture or cattle ranching—and deforestation have further reduced their territory. In 2024, Bolivia became the country with the second-highest deforestation rate in the world, after Brazil. As apex predators, jaguars play a crucial role in regulating prey populations and maintaining ecosystem balance.
Rehabilitation Process and Costs
Since Bolivia had no prior experience releasing jaguars, CIWY formed a committee with government institutions and conservation experts to create rehabilitation protocols. Staff built a 10,000-square-meter enclosure with a pool, costing approximately $80,000 (£60,000), to mimic the conditions of Noel Kempff Mercado National Park. Camera traps monitored Yaguara's behavior, and she was given natural hunting opportunities as prey roamed into the enclosure. Staff supplemented her diet with roadkill. "Her behavior was always in line with that of a wild jaguar," Márquez said. Camera traps also recorded over 600 interactions with a wild male jaguar, indicating mating behavior. The total cost of the release was about $120,000.
Debate Over Conservation Priorities
Some conservationists question the high cost of releasing jaguars into areas with already healthy populations, such as Noel Kempff Mercado. Damián Rumiz, a wildlife researcher at the Noel Kempff Mercado Historic Museum, suggested that funding more in situ conservation activities, improving park ranger training, and studying wild populations with camera traps could deliver better results at lower cost. However, CIWY argues that the release adds to jaguar genetic diversity, contributes to scientific understanding, and is "the fair, ethical, and morally right" thing to do. "We want to give these animals, ripped from their habitat, a second chance," Márquez said. Future releases are expected to be cheaper since the enclosure can be reused. "We've laid the groundwork for many future [releases], because, sadly, this is likely to be the first of many," he added.
