PHOTOGRAPH BY VINCENT J. MUSI JaguarPanthera onca Revered as a god by the ancient Aztec and Maya, the most powerful predator in Central and South America weighs up to 250 pounds. It’s the third largest cat, after tigers and lions.Estimated wild population: At least 10,000Population in zoos: 365Status: Near threatened
Path of the Jaguar If forward-looking conservationists prevail, this wanderer will live on.The New World’s biggest cat won’t survive in isolated, protected habitats. It needs safe migration corridors so it can move and breed. “If we write off these in-between areas,” says conservationist Alan Rabinowitz, “we write off our best chance to keep jaguars from going extinct.”