Amidst the tropical rainforests, marshes, and other ecosystems, Brazil is among the best countries to view the elusive animal called a jaguar. The great American cat is perhaps one of the hardest to find, and yet the most thrilling, as it ranks third among the largest of cat species, and is also the face of the South American wildness. Beautiful spotted hunters that are also known for their power and cleverness flourish in the country of Brazil.
Now let’s look at three Brazil National Parks, where you have the best chance of seeing these awe-inspiring animals – Pantanal Matogrossense National Park, Iguaçu National Park, and Jaú National Park.
Pantanal Matogrossense National Park
Located within the largest tropical wetland in the world, the Pantanal Matogrossense National Park, you can spot jaguars quite comfortably compared to the Amazon rainforests where dense vegetation prevails.
The Pantanal wetlands are far reaching across Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay with the Pantanal Matogrosense National park located at the center. This area boasts the highest number of densest populations of jaguars with most of the individuals being found especially in river banks where they prey on capybaras, caiman and fishes. The peak season extends from July to October which is the dry season the water content is also low and jaguars are seen along causal sources of water while hunting.
Iguaçu National Park
Iguaçu National Park is not only an awe-inspiring site for tourists to watch Iguacu Falls but also serves as a home to a population of jaguars and impressive variety of wildlife. It lies between Brazil and Argentina. While the chances of observing a jaguar in this location are less than those in Pantanal, it can be seen especially in the Brazilian part of the park which holds a good number of these big cats.
Because the area surrounding the Iguaçu Falls is covered by a thick Atlantic Forest, jaguars have plenty of hiding spaces which makes them difficult to spot but at the same time creates a suitable atmosphere for them to live. The jaguars found here hunt for deer, peccaries, and tapirs and it is possible for visitors to see their footprints or listen to their ferocious sounds deep inside the forest.
Jaú National Park
Situated wholly in the Amazon rainforest, Jaú National Park is the largest park in Brazil and serves as an essential breeding ground for jaguars. The riverbanks in this area are notoriously difficult to view wildlife due to the thick bush and Waterways that crisscross the large part of the park, however, jaguars which are most often found resting there can be found.
Besides the jaguars, Jaú National Park is home to several other endangered species including the Amazon river dolphin, giant river otters, and harpy eagles. Day tours, which are usually few days long, enable the tourists to see the most amazing sight of the jaguars as they walk along the banks searching for their prey or even inside the woods on the couched walk.
Conclusion
A jaguar in one of the country’s numerous national parks is the unattainable goal for every wildlife and active recreation lover to travel to Brazil. In these parks, it is not only about seeing one of the most aggressive hunters that stalk out in the wild. It is also about experiencing some of the most beautiful and rich ecosystems on earth.