Predatory behavior and kill rate of a female jaguar (Panthera onca) on cattle

摘要: Killing behavior and consumption rate are important components that determine the final preda- tion rate. We studied predatory of a female jaguar with one offspring in Hato Pinero Venezuelan Los Llanos. Seven carcasses freshly killed calves were found over period 9 days. Automatic video recording was used to document jaguar's behavior. Our study revealed detailed, repetitive sequence while hunting for calves. The started killing calf by biting through skull or neck, then she dragged carcass concealment, evis- cerated it left concealed; then, next evening, returned its cub, fed intermittently total time about 90 min meantime hunted new prey. All this seems have highly adap- tive significance rearing cubs utilizing large During short our obser- vations, estimated kill from 0.67 1 per day. Proper cattle management is necessary avoid high losses predation jaguars.