K-2 ToolKit: Big Cats of the Jungle
Intro
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This is the teaser video being prepared by Devin
What’s Covered?
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The Story Starts Here …
Sneaking quietly through the jungle of Central America, this big cat’s whiskers twitch as it spies a Agouti – a large rodent related to the Guinea Pig. As this nighttime hunter silently creeps up on its prey, its spots shine in the moonlight, and its powerful jaws many times stronger than a human’s prepare to strike.
A jaguar in Belize captured on Inspire EdVentures camera traps (2017)
What is this animal? You might have guessed a leopard because of its spots, but those cats live in Africa and Asia, and we’re in the Americas! In fact, there is only one Big Cat here: the jaguar, the third-largest big cat in the world - only behind the tiger and lion.
You can no longer find jaguars in the United States, but in Belize, a country only as big as a small U.S. state, you can find up to 700 jaguars who call these jungles their home!
That might sound frightening, but jaguars don’t hunt humans – they don’t even like to be around humans. But in Belize, the jaguar's territory is shrinking, because more and more people are building farms and towns in their former range.
Because of this, some jaguars have started hunting animals like cows, chickens, and sheep. These jaguars are called problem jaguars, and sadly many are killed by farmers or by poachers, people who hunt protected animals like the jaguar illegally.
A jaguar at the Belize Zoo
In Belize, organizations like the Belize Zoo take in problem jaguars so they are not killed. Sometimes they are moved to other parts of the country. Other times, they are kept at the Belize Zoo as “ambassadors” to teach people about jaguars.
While there are many jaguars in Belize today, there may not be in the future. Over the past 20 years, jaguars have lost almost one fourth of their population, and one fifth of their territory. If we want to see these beautiful cats in the future, the jungles that jaguars call hme need to be protected, and people must be educated on why they should not kill jaguars. You can help by raising awareness about jaguars to your family and friends!
Lindo, an Ambassador Jaguar at the Belize Zoo
Did you Know?
Some jaguars are born all-black, and are sometimes called panthers - but they are in fact the same species! In the sunlight, you can even see their spots!
Jaguars were considered sacred species to the Mayans, who still live in Belize today! Jaguars are called balam in the Mayan language, and were believed to be connected to the Mayan underworld, or land of the dead.
Male jaguars are larger than females, and jaguars are larger near the equator, like in Brazil. In Belize, jaguars can reach up to 125 pounds, but in Brazil they can grow to over 200!
A jaguar’s spot is called a rosette, and the pattern of rosettes on their coat is unique to the jaguar - just like a human fingerprint!
Reading Activity for K2
Nacho House Cat
Nacho House Cat is authored by Ashley Moseley with the support of Michael Windelspecht as science consultant. Copyright 2025