Photo:Reuters

Mexico’s biggest wild cats, the jaguars, are making a hopeful recovery after years of decline. A new national study shows that Mexico now has about 5,326 jaguars—a 30% increase since 2010, when jaguars were listed as an endangered species in the country. This growth is being celebrated by wildlife experts, but it also comes with serious warnings. Even with this progress, jaguars in Mexico are still under threat and need long-term protection to thrive.

The Journey of Recovery

The jaguar is the largest cat in the Americas and a symbol of the wild jungles and forests of Mexico. For many years, the jaguar population was falling fast due to loss of habitat, illegal hunting, and conflicts with people—especially ranchers who worry jaguars will attack their livestock. Recognizing the danger, Mexico took action and in 2010, listed the jaguar as an endangered species, marking a turning point for conservation efforts.

Thanks to these efforts, jaguars are slowly bouncing back. From 2018 to 2025 alone, the numbers rose by 11%, a sign that focused conservation can work. This progress is often described as “surprising and encouraging” by conservationists.

Why Are Jaguar Numbers Growing?

A big part of this success comes from expanding conservation areas—safe zones where jaguars can move and hunt freely without fear. In these places, strict rules help protect jungles, forests, and rivers, giving the big cats room to live a natural life. Cameras triggered by movement, placed across 15 Mexican states, are used to carefully watch and study jaguar populations.

Nonprofit wildlife groups and government programs work together, creating “jaguar corridors.” These are pathways that connect different habitats, allowing jaguars to travel safely between protected areas to find food, mates, and shelter. Many of these efforts are focused on the Yucatán Peninsula—home to nearly 1,700 jaguars, making it the most important stronghold for the species in Mexico.

Other important populations exist in:

• The South Pacific (1,541 jaguars)

• Central and Northeast Mexico (813 jaguars)

• North Pacific (733 jaguars)

• Central Pacific Coast (540 jaguars)

The Reality: Jaguars Still in Danger

While this comeback is a reason to celebrate, experts are clear—jaguars are not yet safe. Humberto Peña, from the National Alliance for Jaguar Conservation, says it will take at least “15 to 30 years of steady growth” before jaguars in Mexico can be considered out of danger. Conservationists believe that about 8,000 jaguars are needed in Mexico for the population to survive for many generations.

Everyday, jaguars face:

• Shrinking forests and jungles, as land is cleared for farming, ranching, and building

• Illegal hunting (poaching) still happens in some places

• Conflict with ranchers, as jaguars sometimes kill livestock, leading to retaliatory kills

• Illegal trade, with skins, teeth, and claws being sold openly, including online

Steps Needed for the Jaguar’s Future

Saving the jaguar will take teamwork and long-term commitment. Conservationists are calling for:

• Stronger protection of jaguar corridors, to keep forests connected

• Tougher laws and enforcement to stop poaching and illegal trade

• Working with local communities, especially ranchers, to use solutions that protect both livestock and jaguars

• Spreading awareness so everyone understands the jaguar’s importance

Conservation is also getting help from technology, using hundreds of motion-triggered cameras for accurate tracking, and satellite maps to find the best places for jaguar corridors.

Shared Responsibility for a Shared Future

Humberto Peña says protecting the jaguar is “a shared responsibility.” The jaguar’s fate depends not just on conservationists, but on every person who lives in Mexico and anyone who cares about wildlife. Only through joint efforts—governments, nonprofits, local communities, and the public—can these powerful cats be truly saved.

Mexico’s jaguar story is a lesson in hope, showing that with hard work, progress is possible even for an animal once close to disappearing. The journey, however, has just begun. It will take persistence, teamwork, and respect for nature to make sure the roar of the jaguar doesn’t fade from Mexican forests.