S3 E7: Fernando Tortato & Jaguar Tourism

We talk to Fernando Tortato from his home in Cuiaba in Brazil’s Pantanal. Fernando is Brazil Conservation Program Coordinator for Panthera, the global wild cat conservation organization.

Dr Tortato talks about his work researching and championing the rapidly growing Jaguar tourism industry in Brazil. Twenty five years ago it was very difficult to see a wild Jaguar anywhere. Today some of the Pantanal lodges offer ‘Jaguar Express Trips’ that pretty much guarantee a Jaguar sighting before lunch.

In a fascinating interview he talks about trying to balance the intersection of economics, conservation and cultural values when working with local communities and cattle ranchers and the parallels with Chile’s growing Puma tourism. We also learn what it feels like to be charged by an angry Jaguar who blames you for wrecking his chances for romance.

You can see Fernando’s impressive list of publications here. And here is a recent interview with him about his work from the Pew Charitable Trusts.

There are dozens of reports about seeing Jaguars in the Pantal on mammalwatching.com’s Brazil page.

Cover art: Jaguars, Sebastian Kennerknecht