Jaguar recorded in Rio de Janeiro for the first time in 5 decades; watch video

The Inea (State Environmental Institute) of Rio de Janeiro recorded the sighting of a jaguar in the Serra da Concórdia State Park, in Valença, a municipality in the south of the state, 220 km from the capital.

According to the agency, jaguars had not been seen in the state since the 1970s. Researchers say their disappearance is linked to the expansion of cities into forested areas.

Five decades later, the jaguar sighting is an adult male. The state government attributes the sighting to the increased coverage of native vegetation in the Atlantic Forest .

The animal has been monitored since December 2024, through cameras from Inea and the Aventura Animal project, a partner of the state agency.

Inea technicians are analyzing images of the jaguar and the tracks it left in the park, such as footprints and feces. The feline's diet has already been identified: it is predominantly based on animals such as capybaras, wild boars, and cottontail rabbits.

To date, there have been no reports of attacks or accidents involving domestic or livestock animals.

The endangered jaguar is estimated to number fewer than 300 individuals across the Atlantic Forest , according to studies.

Inea plans to secure support from ICMBio (Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation) to temporarily capture the jaguar in the future. The goal is to install a monitoring collar and conduct laboratory tests.

The institute claims to have developed an environmental education plan with the local population. Educators, park rangers, and educational materials inform the public about the importance of jaguar preservation.

One warning is for the public not to attempt to capture the animal on their own and not to use food or objects to attract it. According to Inea, the jaguar is discreet, not violent, and does not approach homes.

"We are working to ensure that this jaguar is monitored and protected, with surveillance cameras, research teams, and enforcement agents. We are also working to ensure that the population remains safe in the presence of this important animal," said Bernardo Rossi, State Secretary of the Environment, in a statement.