No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveGuatemala Starts Campaign To Protect Jaguars

Guatemala Starts Campaign To Protect Jaguars

GUATEMALA CITY (EFE) – The Guatemalan government is launching a campaign to protect the jaguar, and will collect funds for scientific research and habitat protection to save this species from extinction.

Last November, Congress declared 2006 the “Year of the Jaguar,” with the goal of raising awareness among Guatemalans about the need to protect this species, the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) said in a statement Tuesday.

According to the institution, the campaign will kick off on Thursday as part of a regional strategy for the preservation of this feline in the Mayan jungles of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize.

The jaguar, of which only 250 to 300 remain in the wilds of Guatemala, is included on the “red list” of species in danger of extinction, for which reason hunting them and selling their hides, claws or flesh are banned.

According to CONAP, the Mayas considered the jaguar as a symbol of the sun, and as a god associated with plants, water and life.

Principal habitat of the jaguar is in the LacondonMountainNational Park, located in the Mayan Biosphere Reserve, which is the biggest nature reserve in Mesoamerica with a total area of 202,865 hectares (NT, Jan. 20).

According to CONAP, Mexico, Guatemala and Belize, which share the Mayan Biosphere, should carry out activities to save the jungle and protect the jaguar.

 

Trending Now

Costa Rica’s Top Court Bans President Chaves from 2026 Election Campaign

Costa Rica’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal on Thursday barred President Rodrigo Chaves from participating in the 2026 election campaign, ruling that he "illegitimately used" his...

Guatemala Offers Asylum to Nicaraguan Migrants Deported by U.S.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo announced on Friday that his country will grant asylum to Nicaraguan migrants deported by the United States who do not...

Costa Rica’s Piangua Mollusk Threatened by Pineapple Farm Runoff

Costa Rica’s Térraba-Sierpe National Wetland, a 33,000-hectare haven of mangroves and rivers, is under siege from an unlikely source: pineapple farms. A study by...

Costa Rica Pushes USA to the Brink but Falls in Penalty Heartbreak

If you just caught the end of the USA vs. Costa Rica Gold Cup quarterfinal, you probably feel like you need another cup of...

Fishing, Wildlife, and History in Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado

Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado is a magical and charming town. It’s one of the country’s hidden gems, best known for its world-class sport...

An Expat’s Take: 5 Burning Questions About Life in Costa Rica Right Now

Have you been keeping up with the various events taking place in Costa Rica? There is always something interesting going down, and here are...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica