On September 29, two jaguar cubs were born at Brevard Zoo. The new
arrivals are doing quite well, gaining weight and bonding with their
mother, Masaya. They are expected to go out on exhibit for the first
time in mid to late November. At this time, the sex of each cub is
unknown.

So Valiant!

He has little tiny spaces for teeth but NO TEETH!

One might remember that the female jaguar Masaya gave birth to her
first cub Nindiri in June of 2007. Nindiri was just recently sent to
the San Diego Zoo to be paired with a male jaguar as part of the
Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan (SSP). In 2007,
there were currently 44 animals (19 males; 25 females) at 19
institutions in the managed jaguar population. The target population
size is 100 to 120.

"Once again, Masaya is proving to be an
excellent mother, caring for and nursing each cub equally,” said
Michael Magaw, Curator of Animals at Brevard Zoo. “Her confidence and
comfort with her keepers and mate Xinca is very high; therefore,
allowing him to remain within close proximity of their cubs. With the
training Masaya's keepers have invested over the years, we are able to
closely monitor their health and development as well as track their
weight gain in relation to her last cub Nindiri. Surprisingly, both of
this year’s cubs are larger than Nindiri was at two weeks of age. At
present, both cubs are right at five pounds in weight and are gaining
just over a pound a week. They are quite active and vocal even at this
early age. We are all excited and looking forward to watching these two
playing and growing together."

Through the zoo’s conservation
fund, Brevard Zoo has given more than $7,500 in grants to support
jaguars in the wild. It is thought that jaguars have lost nearly 50% of
their home range in the last 100 years. And, since jaguars do not live
in large populations and are constantly on the move, it is difficult to
pinpoint reliable population data. Brevard Zoo supports the Cockscomb
Jaguar Project in Belize. The goal of the project is to develop and
implement a non-invasive monitoring program of jaguar populations and
continue outreach programs with cattle ranchers to ensure the survival
of jaguars in the area and help other countries monitor and do the same.

Jaguars
are found in the dense forests and swampy grasslands of Central and
South America. Known for swimming and climbing, jaguars are carnivores
and hunt deer, monkey, tapirs, capybara, turtles and fish. Sexual
maturity for these animals occurs right around three years and litters
of one to four young are common. Jaguars live up to 20 years in
captivity.