By means of sustainable tourism, the project tries to offer the farm owner a substitute for killed cows
Jungle trekking through the farmland and checking various photo traps
After breakfast, we start the Jaguar Conservation Tour with just the bare minimums packed in our small daypack Nick Adventures. We leave the traffic chaos of Santa Cruz and get the true picture of the region to face: Soy plantations as far as the eye can see! Soy monocultures are now growing where lush dry forest grew just a few years ago. There is no longer any space here for the once abundant fauna. Only a few rheas seem to be able to make friends with the new environment. Occasionally there are also white-skinned and partly ancient ones Mennonites To see, the Protestant Free Churches call the region their home and still speak Low German. I shorten the trip by reading the studies of the Panthera and Wildlife Conservation Society on the jaguar population.
After a time-consuming journey, which is predominantly over a Dirt road leads, we reach our goal around noon: the Ranch San Miguelito. We are greeted warmly by Dustin, who grew up in the USA. As almost the only farmer, Dustin still relies on the less lucrative ones Cattle breeding. Thus, his property is mainly from the natural vegetation overgrown. Every now and then the big cats tear one of its animals, which in extreme cases leads to it being shot. Just yesterday two cows were killed by a jaguar.
In particular, old and injured cats hunt the farm animals. Several jaguar, puma, ocelot, tapir, caiman and crocodile skins, pelts and skulls are exhibited in the house. One of the gorgeous cats is supposed to record-breaking 180 kg have weighed. The walls of the country house are full of pictures of the local wildlife. Income from the numerous camera traps on the spacious property. Six types of cats call the place their home: jaguar, puma, ocelot, jaguarundi, Margay and the rare little spotted cat.
After the delicious meal, we first do it extensively siesta. The sun literally burns down from the sky so that most of the animals go to the shade at this time. Around 4 p.m. with plenty of water, camera, flashlight and in long-sleeved clothes to protect against them Mosquitoes let's march off. The dense vegetation is overgrown with cacti, which is why the cat species and other animals like to use human paths. Ideal conditions for the photo trapssome of which we will now control. There are also two Indians with them machetewhich often pave the way.
Large parts of the path are due to the heavy rainfalls of the last few days under water. Soon there is a steep uphill to one cave, where different types of cats have already fallen into the photo trap. There we also find a caiman skull with distinct bite holes of a jaguar. A little further on we have one great view over the extensive farmland. The forest and swamp covered by palm trees are simply beautiful. We make our way down the slope and wade back along the swamp towards the farm. Even the high hiking boots no longer stay dry.
Soon it will be night and we will pull out our flashlights. Here in Empire of the jaguar Admittedly, being out and about only in the light of the flashlight provides a slight thrill. Nick's trained eyes spot you well camouflaged common frog and a tarantula at the entrance of their building.
The excellent dinner awaits in the country house, pretty exhausted. Outside on the veranda with a great view there is a blaze of fire Campfire, where we also discover two more tarantulas. Then it's going to bed soon, after all, tomorrow morning is supposed to go too.
