Take a look at this picture of Macho B, who was the last remaining jaguar in the United States. Macho B was recently captured and fitted with an electronic tracking device. Macho B was dead soon thereafter. Was it the trap that killed Macho B when it snared his paw (see picture above)? Or was it the electronic tracking collar? Electronic devices have been previously known to adversely affect animal health.
The official press release from the Arizona Game and Fish Department is below.
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Collared Arizona jaguar euthanized
Mar 2, 2009
A collared jaguar from southern Arizona that was recaptured today for medical intervention has been euthanized after veterinarians determined the cat was in severe and unrecoverable kidney failure.
The decision was made in consultations between the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Phoenix Zoo.
The jaguar was brought to the Phoenix Zoo earlier today after a team from the department recaptured it. Zoo veterinarians conducted lab work and physical exams to evaluate the animal and discover the source of the cat’s deteriorating condition.
While early data indicated that the animal was doing well in the days following the capture and collaring, careful monitoring of recent data revealed a decreased level of activity over the weekend that warranted further investigation.
“This is an unfortunate and disappointing situation,” said Gary Hovatter, deputy director of the Arizona Gama and Fish Department. “We were looking forward to using the data acquired from Macho B to learn more about the species use of the borderland habitats in order to further conserve the species as a whole.”
Macho B was believed to be the oldest known jaguar in the wild. His age was estimated at two to three years old in photographs taken in 1996, making him 15-16 years old now. Previously the oldest known jaguar in the wild was 13 years old.
Kidney failure is a common ailment in older cats.
“It is a sad, but appropriate course of action to euthanize this animal given the hopelessly terminal nature of his condition,” said Steve Spangle, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Arizona field supervisor.
A necropsy will be performed to learn more about the jaguar’s condition and to possibly provide clues into how long the animal had been sick.
The jaguar’s initial capture was guided by protocols developed in case a jaguar was inadvertently captured in the course of other wildlife management activities. The plan, which was created in consultation with leading jaguar experts, includes a protocol for capture, sedation and handling.
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It is a sad loss and what makes it even sadder is Macho B likely did not have to die. The Phoenix Zoo may have jumped the gun when it came to putting him to sleep!
Macho B may not have had chronic kidney failure after all.
Tissue samples from the last known wild jaguar in the United States showed no sign of kidney disease, the diagnosis Phoenix Zoo veterinarians made in deciding to euthanize him.
A pathologist at the UA's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, which reviewed the tissue samples, said authorities may have moved too fast to euthanize the animal early this month.
Source: AZStar.net; Arizona Game and Fish Department
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