Big Cat Conservation: A Global Alliance

Dear donors,

In the Spring of 2014, Jaguar Elder Ernesto Olmos traveled to his homeland in Oaxaca, Mexico. He met with Jaguar scientists and Elders and through his meetings, he suggested that Oaxaca be considered as the next venue for the Global Alliance for Big Conservation gathering. 

We traveled to Mexico earlier this month to establish feasibility of conducting our next gathering there. We met with biologists and officials from the following agencies: Yaguar Xoo (a zoo doing extensive research on the jaguar), Director of CEDRIIL, CONAMP officials, as well as with a leading archeologist in the area. We also met with Elders and held ceremony on Jaguar Mountain.

We discussed the current state of Jaguars and what's being done through government and through local communities to help conserve jaguars in the region. Once numbering 600,000, there are now a mere 3,500-4,000 jaguars living in the wild in the area, the majority of which live in the sierras north of Oaxaca City. Due to the same issues facing big cats around the world—habitat encroachment, poaching, etc.—they are in danger of becoming extinct. 

We are still in discussions about where we will hold the next gathering, but Oaxaca is a strong possibility. Some of the benefits of gathering in this area include: the presence of the Jaguar is very strong; it's a very diverse area with strong ties to culture and tradition; there's a strong pride in indigenous culture and communities are already banding together and working with government officials to lead conservation efforts; and, there is a good connection to other global alliance gathering spots—there is a real sense of Oaxaca as being a place of origin.

Stay tuned and thank you for your continued support!