Jaguar (
Panthera onca)
Care Manual
20
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
visual and auditory barriers which, when used in conjunction with
other features, should produce multi-
level, complex pathways that can help to prevent the development of stereotypic behaviors. Exhibits
should be designed to minimize psychological pressure from viewers. Vegetation, rockwork, and climbing
structures may help reduce stress. Landscaping should be maximized to simulate natural cover and
provide walkways, escape routes, and shade. Plant toxicity should be ascertained prior to planting an
enclosure with landscaping materials. Water features are highly recommended and should contain deep
(>1 m [3.28 ft]) and shallow areas to stimulate play activity.
With approval from area managers and veterinarians, the exhibit components listed in Table 5 can be
included within jaguar enclosures to promote species-appropriate behaviors.
Table 5.
Exhibit components for indoor and outdoor jaguar exhibits
Exhibit
Exhibit components
Outdoor
Rocks, bamboo, trees (evergreen, mulberry, elm) swinging or hanging logs, shrubs, deadfall
trees, tree limbs at different levels, rock den, concrete cave, timber platform, straw bed, rock
ledge, brush pile, fire hose hammock, hot rock, gunite rock/trees, tree stumps, vines, plants
(e.g., honey suckle, palms, butterfly bush, junipers)
Indoor
Wooden bench, shelves (wooden, gunite, plywood, metal, Corian
®
) pallets, kennel, den, vines,
hide box, ropes, hanging cedar logs, hanging tire, wooden perching, pool (approximately one
meter deep)
Exhibits should also be designed to incorporate the jaguar’s nocturnal and
crepuscular activity peaks,
and so provide the opportunity for animals to perform species-appropriate behaviors throughout the day
and night. Studies of wild jaguars reveal peaks in activity around 0330–0600 hours and 1830–2100 hours
(Law, 2009). Natural substrates such as grass and dirt are recommended as best for outdoor exhibits.
Substrates such as dirt, sand, wood chips, and mulch can be utilized to cover hardscape surfaces if they
are necessary. It should be noted that these materials may need to be stripped according to need,
especially if they are being used as a latrine. The use of hard, artificial substrates (e.g., concrete) should
be minimized, as these have been associated with footpad injuries and early symptoms of arthritis (Law,
2009). Even a thin intermittent layer of natural substrate such as sand is helpful. The use of natural logs is
also helpful.
Enclosure cleaning: Recommended procedures for cleaning include daily inspections of the naturalistic
exhibit to remove fecal material, waste products, and enrichment items. Cleaning/sanitation of off-display
holding areas and exhibits that utilize hard surface floors in the keeper work areas, shift corridors,
individual holding units, and enrichment items, should include daily removal of fecal material. It is good
practice to implement a regular cleaning and sanitizing schedule incorporating detergents (e.g., lotionized
soap and degreasing dish detergents) and disinfecting agents (e.g., quaternary ammonium disinfectants,
chlorhexidine, and diluted bleach). Felids are potentially susceptible to toxicity from certain disinfectants
including phenols. The choice of disinfectant should be veterinarian-approved. After any chemical
application, surfaces should be rinsed with a high-pressure water stream. Access should not be provided
until wet areas have completely dried in order to prevent injury to
the animals. Many institutions place disinfecting footbaths at
exhibit and
night house entry points, especially in areas where
keepers service a number of exhibits containing diverse species.
Steam cleaning of hard surface areas is recommended annually
where practical.
Animal care staff are recommended to never enter an
enclosure with adult jaguars. For the purposes of cleaning and
making changes to the environment (e.g., adding enrichment),
each facility should have a means to shift the animals from the
exhibit/habitat space to an equally secure off-exhibit space such as a holding area or ‘night house’ (see
Section 2.2 for additional information).
Holding areas: Every animal should have its own individual shift cage, or bedroom, containing a
shelf or
nest box which is utilized while the animals are off-exhibit during enclosure maintenance and servicing.
Logs and stumps for scent marking and sharpening claws are also recommended for night
holding
enclosures. The minimum recommended size for shift cages used in daily operations is 2.44 m x 2.44 m x
AZA Accreditation Standard
(10.3.3) All animal enclosures (exhibits,
holding areas, hospital, and
quarantine/isolation) must be of a size
and complexity sufficient to provide for
the animal’s physical, social, and
psychological well-being. AZA housing
guidelines outlined in the Animal Care
Manuals should be followed.
Jaguar (
Panthera onca)
Care Manual
21
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
2.44 m (8 ft x 8 ft x 8 ft). Shift cages should be designed to prevent accidental contact that would allow an
appendage to enter the cage of an adjacent, incompatible cat, resulting in injury. If the shift cages are
immediately adjacent to each other, a solid divider is the best option. If mesh is used, it should be no less
than 4 mm (6-gauge) steel wire composition with a grid measuring no more than 5 cm x 5 cm (2 in. x 2
in.). Shift doors should be designed to prevent tail injury during transfer procedures. The easiest way to
prevent this is to be sure there is a clear unobstructed view of the shift door. Optional “howdy” doors
should be considered between individual holding units to facilitate introductions. Isolated
birthing dens
that have low-light capabilities and reduced human foot-traffic activity should be available for institutional
breeding programs. Provision for a closed-circuit television monitor is suggested as well (AZA Jaguar
SSP Management Group and Advisors, personal communication, 2014).
2.2 Safety and Containment
Animals housed in free-ranging environments should be
carefully selected, monitored and treated humanely so that the
safety of these animals and persons viewing them is ensured
(AZA Accreditation Standard 11.3.3).
The jaguar is not a candidate for any mixed species or free-
range exhibits; nor is it suitable as an ambassador animal.
Animal exhibits and holding areas in all AZA-accredited
institutions must be secured to
prevent unintentional animal
egress (AZA Accreditation Standard 11.3.1). All animal exhibit
and holding area air and water inflows and outflows must also be
securely protected to prevent animal injury or egress (AZA
Accreditation standard 1.5.15). Pest control methods must be
administered so there is no threat to the animals, staff, public, and
wildlife (
AZA Accreditation Standard 2.8.1). Exhibit design must
be considered carefully to ensure that all areas are secure and
particular attention must be given to shift doors, gates, keeper
access doors, locking mechanisms and exhibit barrier dimensions
and construction.
Primary containment: Primary containment for jaguars should
be designed to provide the highest level of security. If possible,
institutions are recommended to completely enclose the top of
any jaguar enclosure.
However, if jaguars are to be housed in an open-topped
enclosure, dry moats should have a width of no less than 7.62 m
(25 ft), and vertical jump walls at least 4.57 m (15 ft) high are
recommended. Cantilevered supports with mesh or fencing
material with an attached hot-wire is recommended
for open-top
fenced exhibits.
Fence or mesh material should be no less than 4 mm (6-gauge) steel wire composition, with good
results achieved using 5 cm x 10 cm (2 in. x 4 in.) mesh. Custom woven stainless steel cable net is also
available with a cable diameter of 2.29 mm (3/32 in.) or more in a 5 cm or 7.6 cm (2 or 3 in.) mesh.
Lighter-weight mesh is not appropriate for this species. Because of the risk of jaguars’ paws reaching
through, a mesh measuring no more than 5 cm x 5 cm (2 in. x 2 in.) is recommended in keeper work
areas or zones in which the public may be able to reach it. In keeper work areas, good results have been
achieved using woven steel wire grids of 5 cm x 5 cm (2 in. x 2 in.) composed of 6.35 mm (1/4 in.) wire
stock. It should be noted that woven cable net is quite flexible and jaguars can stretch it as much as
several feet outward when striking the barrier at a run.
As this species is a strong jumper and climber, an
impenetrable roof, preferably no lower than 3.66 m
(12 ft), should be considered in order to defeat climb-outs or a leaping ricochet off an adjacent structure
or prop. Great care should be taken in placement of landscaping and exhibit furniture to avoid the
possibility of their use by cats to reach areas in which public, other animals, or staff may be injured.
Consideration should include prevention of a stepping stone effect by animals jumping from one
AZA Accreditation Standard
(11.3.3) Special attention must be given
to free-ranging animals so that no undue
threat is posed to either the institution’s
animals, the free-ranging animals, or the
visiting public. Animals maintained where
they will be in contact with the visiting
public must be carefully monitored, and
treated humanely at all times.
AZA Accreditation Standard
(11.3.1) All animal exhibits and holding
areas must be secured to prevent
unintentional animal egress.
AZA Accreditation Standard
(2.8.1) Pest control management
programs must be administered in such a
manner that the animals, paid and unpaid
staff, the public, and wildlife are not
threatened by the pests, contamination
from pests, or the control methods used.
AZA Accreditation Standard
(1.5.15) All animal exhibit and holding
area air and
water inflows and outflows
must be securely protected to prevent
animal injury or egress.