Jack and Anna Childs went hunting for the elusive Southwestern jaguar, but what they found was bigger than the rare spotted cat, and even more surprising. Founders of the Borderlands Jaguar Detection Project, the Childs set up ""camera traps,"" or remote-sensor cameras activated by motion and body heat, along the U.S.-Mexico border. They did capture the first live, wild jaguar ever photographed this way in the U.S. But their non-invasive, candid cameras also captured fascinating animal behavior across the entire ecosystem. The jaguar, it seems, is a minor figure in a habitat that supports over 20 other large mammals. Black bears, mountain lions, bobcats, javelinas, coyotes, and human beings were also caught in behavior-and misbehavior-characteristic to their species.
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On August 31, 1996, Jack L. and Anna Mary Childs saw and photographed a live jaguar in the wild. Although the couple were experienced outdoors people who had often seen mountain lions, a jaguar was almost unheard of. "That changed our lives," says Jack. The Childs live near Amado, Arizona.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Jaguar Redux,
By
This review is from: Ambushed on the Jaguar Trail (Paperback)
I bought this book on February 14, 2009, coincidentally just four days before the wild, male jaguar (Macho B) featured in this interesting book of camera-trap photos of him (and other Arizona wildlife) was captured accidentally on February 18 by Arizona Fish and Game Department researchers south of Tucson. He was released then wearing a radio-transmitter collar to more accurately permit study of his daily movements and activities. On March 2, 2009, however, we learned sadly in the news that he had been recaptured, moved to the Phoenix Zoo, and euthanized due to severe kidney failure...doubtless complicated by the cumulative stresses of being captured and immobilized for a number of hours...at an estimated age of 15-16 years. Probably the oldest, known-age wild jaguar ever photographed over a number of years.
So the story presented here in Jack and Anna Child's book about their periodic camera-trap contacts with him during the 13 years between 1996--when he was first treed by their hunting dogs and photographed by them--and 2009 may remain as a rather poignant memorial to the exciting, but ultimately sad, saga of Macho B. A beautiful, lone male jaguar who had quietly roamed the borderland mountains of southern Arizona and northern Mexico for a number of years...largely unknown but actively padding along out there somewhere nonetheless not so very far away from us, under the same starry nights of our own Arizona lives. May a few others of his large and handsome, predatory kind continue to somehow find and grace these mountains...preferably without our (fatal) knowing.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE LAST JAGUAR?,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Ambushed on the Jaguar Trail (Paperback)
"Ambushed" by Jack L. and Anna Mary Childs is s superb and comprehensive photographic and guided tour of the animals that travel the New Mexico and Arizona borders just North of Mexico.
The book exhibits numerous photos from hidden cameras which captured everything from a naked hiker, drug smugglers, hunters, to the entire gamut of well known desert and mountain dwelling animals. However, the main focus of this book and its photographs are not just deer, javalina, and mountain lions, but...the illusive and highly rare Jaguar! The authors of this book first came face to face with this magnificent animal in 1996 when their lion dogs happened to tree the animal. The animal was then photographed, and allowed to leave on its own volition. Some 13 years of additional study and photographs were subsequently initiated and, in its wake... a specialized Jaguar Conservation Program was implemented on both sides of the border. In fact, the Northern Jaguar Project is in full operation today, and backed by such organizations as Defenders of Wildlife, and enforced by the Arizona and New Mexico Fish and Wildlife Departments. These organizations and departments are working now to study the feasibility in maintaining an open corridor through various mountain ranges in an effort to help re-establish the Jaguar within the boundaries of the United States. Anyone interested in the story of the Jaguar in the Southwestern United States as well as south of border should check with Defenders of Wildlife's "JAG Team" and or, research additional information on this subject through the inter-net or, via Amazon. Com's additional book listings. This is a great book for anyone interested in the outdoors or, wildlife! The authors are to be congratulated on their pioneering research and on-going efforts to educate the public on this unique animal and its habitat. A superb book for a great price!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent look at a rare animal,
By Fotofred (Tucson, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Ambushed on the Jaguar Trail (Paperback)
Jaguars in Arizona? Yes! These fascinating trail camera images portray the return of the jaguar from Mexico to southern Arizona. Also includes other rarely seen wildlife, such as mountain lion, ringtail, badger, four species of skunks and more. The brief but thorough text gives the history of the Borderlands Jaguar Detection Project while portraying the rugged beauty of the southwest borderlands region. Unlike some other natural history books, which can have dry scientific text, this book is written by laymen and is a very enjoyable read. Highly recommended for all wildlife lovers and a MUST HAVE for big cat fans.
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