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On the Prowl
Photograph by Paul Donahue
On August 25, photographer Paul Donahue got a call: A large male jaguar had been spotted on the hunt in central Brazil's Tres Irmãos River.
Donahue, who tracks jaguar sightings for ecotourism operator Southwild in Mato Grosso (map), arrived at the scene to find an animal named Mick Jaguar hidden in thick grass, stalking a nearby group of caiman, a crocodile relative native to South America (pictured).
"Over the next 30 to 40 minutes we watched the jaguar very slowly slink along in the direction of the yacaré," he wrote in his field notes. (Read "Path of the Jaguars" in National Geographic magazine.)
The largest of South America's cats, jaguars are good swimmers and regularly prey on fish, turtles, and caimans. They also eat larger animals such as deer, peccaries, capybaras, and tapirs.
—Christine Dell'Amore
Published September 6, 2013
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All Wet
Photograph by Paul Donahue
The jaguar slipped into the water and swam across to the sandbar (pictured), where a roughly 120-pound (54-kilogram) caiman was basking in the sun, facing away from the water and the approaching predator, Donahue said. (See more jaguar pictures.)
"A week earlier we had watched this same cat approach caiman on the same sandbar without success, and we were expecting a similar result this afternoon," he wrote.
"Just the same, our boat was positioned perfectly, with the sun behind us and very close to the [caiman], so whatever happened was going to happen right in front of us."
Published September 6, 2013
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Attack
Photograph by Paul Donahue
Reaching the sandbar, the big cat rose slowly out of the water, and then suddenly pounced on the caiman (pictured).
Named Mick Jaguar, the animal—known for its damaged right eye—had been observed before in 2011 and previously in 2013. Since 2004 Donahue and colleagues have recorded about 88 jaguars in the area of the Meeting of the Waters State Park, and since mid-June they've identified 22 individuals.
The big cats currently live in isolated populations scattered across North and South America, which is part of the reason the species is listed as "near threatened" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. (See a map of jaguar populations.)
Published September 6, 2013
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Ready for the Kill
Photograph by Paul Donahue
Jaguars are ambush killers, dispatching their prey by piercing the skull or neck with a single speedy bite. Their strategy differs from that of most other cats, which grab their prey's throat and suffocate it.
(Also see "Jaguar Pictures: Record Big-Cat Numbers Spotted in Bolivia.")
Published September 6, 2013
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Fatal Bite
Photograph by Paul Donahue
The jaguar grabbed the caiman first with its right front paw, then bit the reptile's back a little below the head.
The predator then quickly adjusted its bite to the base of the yacaré's skull—the manner in which a jaguar normally kills—then wrestled the yacaré into a dragging position and headed back across the inlet, Donahue recounted in his field notes.
Published September 6, 2013
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Speedy End
Photograph by Paul Donahue
The jaguar carries off his prize, which took just a few seconds to capture, Donahue said.
"We all just stood there with our mouths hanging open, not believing what we had just witnessed," he said.
"We had seen kills before, but nothing so spectacular and horrific nor at such close range. It's made me think a lot about the fragility of life and the fine line between life and death."
Published September 6, 2013
182 comments
Best Revenge.. this Caiman had actually killed jaguar's lover before when she had come to drink water here :)
No matter how much credit a photographer wants to claim this shows the best shots are a result of luck especially the photo of the "Afghan girl."
I have seen many pictures/videos of this nature, but this one is "INCREDIBLE" You made the grade Mr.Donahue!
The speedy catch and kill is stunning. It makes you think about the thin line between life and death as you have said. Life is extremely fragile indeed.
Anyone with a house cat can see the same technique. Fascinating to see it with such large prey, though. But what I have always found interesting is that most often the prey does not offer much resistance, but seems to accept its fate. It does make you wonder about the circle of life.
I would have thought the Caiman would have had the upper hand for it was in it's element. I find this very interesting.
wow, Caiman looks stil alive, Some pictures are missing..... It' Can't be that easy mate...
It's a rare event timely and finely captured in a camera. Survival of the fittest.
Great shots!It's made me think a lot about the fragility of life and the fine line between life and death,too.
@Brenda Baker hi miss brenda i like the pict of your shnauzer its pretty i luv this kind of dog
@andrew decicco Uhhhh...you've never been bitten by a Big Cat - not something you're getting away from!
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