Jaguar (
Panthera onca)
Care Manual
68
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Chapter 10. Ambassador Animals
10.1 Ambassador Animal Policy
AZA recognizes many public education and, ultimately, conservation benefits from ambassador
animal presentations. AZA’s Conservation Education Committee’s Ambassador (previously called
Program) Animal Position Statement (Appendix F) summarizes the value of ambassador animal
presentations. For the
purpose of this policy, an ambassador animal is described as an animal presented
either within or outside of its normal exhibit or holding area that is intended to have regular proximity to or
physical contact with trainers, handlers, the public, or will be part of an ongoing conservation
education/outreach program.
Ambassador animal presentations bring a host of responsibilities, including the welfare of the animals
involved, the safety of the
animal handler and public, and accountability for the take-home, educational
messages received by the audience. Therefore, AZA requires all accredited institutions that give
ambassador animal presentations to develop an institutional ambassador animal policy that clearly
identifies and justifies those species and individuals approved as ambassador animals and details their
long-term management plan and educational program objectives. If an animal on loan from another
facility is used as an ambassador animal, the owner’s permission is to be obtained prior to program use.
AZA’s accreditation standards require that the conditions and
treatment of animals in education programs must meet standards
set for the remainder of the animal collection, including species-
appropriate shelter, exercise, sound and environmental
enrichment, access to veterinary care, nutrition, and other related
standards (AZA Accreditation Standard 1.5.4). All record-keeping
requirements noted previously apply to ambassador animals (AZA
Accreditation Standards 1.4.1, 1.4.2, 1.4.3, 1.4.4, 1.4.5, 1.4.6, and
1.4.7). In addition, providing ambassador animals with options to
choose among a variety of conditions within their environment is
essential to ensuring effective care, welfare, and management.
Some of these requirements can be met outside of the primary
exhibit enclosure while the animal is involved in a program or is
being transported. For example, housing may be reduced in size
compared to a primary enclosure as long as the animal’s physical
and psychological needs are being met during the program; upon
return to the facility the animal should be returned to its species-
appropriate housing as described above.
Due to the potential for serious caretaker injury or death,
jaguars are not recommended to be used as ambassador animals.
AZA Accreditation Standard
(1.5.4) If ambassador animals are used, a
written policy on the
use of live animals in
programs must be on file and incorporate
the elements contained in AZA’s
“Recommendations For Developing an
Institutional Ambassador Animal Policy”
(see policy in the current edition of the
Accreditation Standards and Related
Policies booklet). An education,
conservation, and welfare message must
be an integral component of all programs.
Animals in education programs must be
maintained and cared for by paid and/or
unpaid trained staff, and
housing
conditions must meet standards required
for the remainder of the animals in the
institution. While outside their primary
enclosure, although the conditions may
be different, animal safety and welfare
need to be assured at all times.
Jaguar (
Panthera onca)
Care Manual
69
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Chapter 11. Research
11.1 Known Methodologies
AZA believes that contemporary jaguar management,
husbandry, veterinary care and conservation practices should be
based in science, and that a commitment to
scientific research,
both basic and applied, is a trademark of the modern zoological
park and aquarium. AZA-accredited institutions have the
invaluable opportunity, and are expected, to conduct or facilitate
research both in
in situ and
ex situ settings to advance scientific
knowledge of the animals in our care and enhance the
conservation of wild populations. This knowledge might be
achieved by participating in AZA Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) or
Species Survival Plan
®
(SSP) Program sponsored research,
conducting and publishing original research projects, affiliating
with local universities, and/or employing
staff with scientific
credentials (AZA Accreditation Standard 5.3). An AZA institution
must demonstrate a commitment to scientific study that is in
proportion to the size and scope of its facilities, staff, and animals
(AZA Accreditation Standard 5.0).
All record-keeping requirements noted previously apply to most research animals, especially those
which are part of the exhibit collection. When an animal on loan to a facility is subject to an invasive
research procedure, including when done as part of a routine health exam, the owner’s prior permission is
to be obtained.
Research investigations, whether observational, behavioral, physiological, or genetically based,
should have a clear scientific purpose with the reasonable expectation that they will increase our
understanding of the species being investigated and may provide results which benefit the health or
welfare of animals in wild populations. Many AZA-accredited institutions incorporate superior positive
reinforcement training programs into their routine schedules to facilitate sensory, cognitive, and
physiological research investigations and these types of programs are strongly encouraged by the AZA.
As with other
Panthera species, the jaguar’s size, strength, and
diet do not recommend it for
traditional laboratory study. Most scientific research on jaguars, to date, has been conducted by field
researchers with particular interest in the species and its ecology, independent conservation
organizations, zoos, and combinations of the three groups.
A wide variety of research techniques have been used to study jaguar populations both in the wild
and under zoo management. Some of these recently used techniques and their purposes are described
below:
Morphological Data: Information on the structure, size, and proportions of the body of the jaguar has
been used to explore evolutionary pressures on the jaguar. These data have contributed to controversy
surrounding jaguar subspecies for more than 150 years. However, Larson (1997) found that more
variation in skull morphology existed within proposed subspecies than existed within subspecies. Their
form has also been used to better inform the function of the jaguar’s systems and the jaguar’s ecological
niche and strategies as compared to other felids (Gonyea & Ashworth, 1975; Gonyea, 1976).
Molecular genetics: Analysis of microsatellite markers on somatic DNA and mtDNA has been used to
show that jaguars from the northernmost and southernmost parts of their range are different, but that
those living in Central and northern South America are not very different. This means that sub-species
classifications would not be warranted. The analyses also show that jaguars might be in an expansion
and rapid growth phase of habitat exploitation when compared with similar studies in
other species
(Eizirik
et al., 2001). More recent analyses have confirmed these results, and also shown that there is no
sign of a genetic bottleneck in jaguars (Ruiz-Garcia
et al., 2006). Eizirik
et al., (2008) recommend
improved standardization of DNA analysis in jaguars for improved comparability between studies.
Radio telemetry: Data collected from radio telemetry studies have provided information on the range and
distribution of wild jaguars, which covers area from Northern Argentina, up through most of México
AZA Accreditation Standard
(5.3) The institution should maximize the
generation and dissemination of scientific
knowledge gained.
This might be
achieved by participating in AZA
TAG/SSP sponsored
studies when
applicable, conducting and publishing
original research projects, affiliating with
local universities, and/or employing staff
with scientific credentials.
AZA Accreditation Standard
(5.0) The institution must have a
demonstrated commitment to scientific
study that is in proportion to the size and
scope of its facilities, staff (paid and
unpaid), and animals.