What if the future of one of the most amazing creatures on Earth depends not on the wild, but on a laboratory?
As jaguar populations face the specter of extinction, scientists are turning to innovative solutions that blur the line between nature and human intervention.
In a world where the majestic jaguar could disappear, the idea of ​​artificial insemination may sound like a desperate gamble. But could this controversial approach really be the key to saving these iconic cats?
In an effort to save the dwindling jaguar population, scientists have resorted to artificial insemination. Bianca was one of five healthy jaguars they selected for the experiment. Scientists used the Al Embryo Transfer method, developed by specialists at Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW), to inseminate her in November 2018. The cub was born healthy in February at Mata Ciliar, an environmental organization in Brazil. . Two days later, however, she disappeared from the birthing den. Scientists believe the mother may have eaten it.
Bianca and her baby
“Unfortunately, the cub died after two days,” said deputy Mata Ciliar. “We don’t know why and we can’t determine if it was killed by the mother because it wasn’t visible on the monitors the next day. Bianca was a first-time mother and that could have affected the outcome of the event.” The veterinary team could not perform a necropsy because the baby had already been eaten.”
According to Dr. According to Lindsey Vansandt, a theriogenologist and lead scientist on the experiment, filial cannibalism is not uncommon in carnivores.
Artificial insemination for jaguars
Therefore, artificial insemination may still be a way to protect jaguars. “The jaguar is the last of the seven big cat species to undergo artificial insemination (Al),” said Dr. Bill Swanson, director of CREW Animal Research. “The birth of this cub is an important historical milestone. It revives the idea of ​​using assisted reproduction as a management technique that supports the genetic heterogeneity of populations (captive and wild) and the conservation of these endangered iconic cats.”
“Important Milestone”
The laparoscopic Al technique was invented by CREW. They have used it before with other wild cat species that need protection. “Using a systematic research strategy, we were able to improve our understanding of the jaguar’s unique reproductive biology and make species-specific modifications to our standard Al approach,” Vansandt said. “The jaguar is the last of the seven big cat species that Al created.
The birth of this cub marks a significant turning point and opens up the possibility of using assisted reproduction as a management strategy to protect this iconic cat.
A bittersweet test
According to remote camera surveillance, Bianca appeared to be taking good care of her lone cub a few days after giving birth. However, the cub disappeared after two days.
“Scientifically, we celebrate the fact that the cub was born healthy and that Al was successful,” Vansandt said. “It is disappointing that the cub did not survive longer, but it is not unusual for carnivores, especially primiparous mothers, to treat their offspring in this way.” Despite the experiment’s dire conclusion, scientists are optimistic about its potential effects on the species.
Jaguar reintroduction
Bianca and another female jaguar named Tabatinga were the subject of a repeat experiment by Brazilian and American scientists in 2021. However, the public was not able to see the results of this effort.
Vansandt gave an explanation for why the process is repeating itself. “The population keeps getting smaller and smaller and then there’s inbreeding that has a lot of bad consequences,” she said. “If we can take sperm from one male and inseminate a female from another location, we can keep their gene flow moving and keep the population healthier.”
Species that are “near threatened”
Jaguars are considered “near threatened” in Latin America due to population declines caused by habitat destruction and hunting.
They are the third largest feline in the world. They inhabit savannas, scrub, and forests in 18 different countries, from Mexico to Argentina. Now Brazil is home to about half of its total population.
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