The La Papalota ecological farm, located in Santiago Ixcuintla, Nayarit, recently shared a scene worthy of a nature documentary: an imposing jaguar walking through puddles and vegetation, while dragonflies flutter and cicadas announce the rain. Everything was captured by a camera trap, which captured the exact moment this big cat returned to one of its former territories: the wetlands that flourish with the rainy season.
A natural spectacle starring the jaguar
The post, shared on social media, was not only a celebration of the jaguar’s return, but a tribute to the rebirth of the ecosystem. “The water level rises, the plants gain strength, the dragonflies dance freely… and the king of the mangroves dominates the entire scene,” said the La Papalota team, highlighting the feline’s starring role in this natural spectacle that occurs every year.
The feline was seen in a wetland located at the mouth of the Lerma-Santiago River, within a 368-hectare farm that shelters mangroves, low deciduous forest, and thorny scrub. But this sighting was no coincidence. According to Ignacio Vallarta, one of the project’s driving forces, the video represents not only the return of the jaguar, but also the beginning of a new era for the local ecosystem.
Rains that transform the landscape and awaken life
The rains in this region not only beautify the environment, but also completely transform its dynamics. According to La Papalota experts, the animals adapt their behavior to the new climatic conditions: they move more, search for food, and frequent trails that would normally be dry. With the water, more birds and insects emerge, activating a chain of life at an accelerated pace.
“It’s a good time to observe the fauna and learn from its behavior,” the team explains. In fact, many of the most valuable monitoring images come from this very season, when roads flood and biodiversity becomes visible.
Monitoring, Education, and Respect: Keys to Conservation
But La Papalota doesn’t just observe. For years, it has been actively working with local communities to protect the jaguar and other key species. This includes preventing their hunting, promoting livestock insurance to avoid conflicts caused by attacks on livestock, and most importantly, fostering a respectful relationship between humans and wildlife.
“Agricultural and livestock expansion has invaded feline territory. This causes jaguars to attack domestic animals, or to be hunted in retaliation,” warns Vallarta. Therefore, a fundamental part of the project is to change the perception of the jaguar: from an enemy to a symbol of ecological balance.
In addition, La Papalota offers environmental workshops in secondary schools in the region to teach children and young people the importance of conserving species like the jaguar and mangroves, raising awareness that transcends generations.
Restoring the Mangrove: An Urgent and Challenging Task
One of the most ambitious projects the team is leading is the restoration of the buttonwood mangrove, a key plant species for wetland health. Although vital, this mangrove is difficult to reproduce and transplant. Therefore, they have spent years studying its behavior to achieve successful ecological restoration techniques.
“It’s a challenge, but also a priority. Without these mangroves, the ecosystem loses its balance,” says Vallarta.
National Marshes: A Biodiverse Sanctuary
La Papalota is part of the National Marshes system, one of Mexico’s most important ecosystems. So far, four of the six big cats that inhabit the country have been documented in this corner of Nayarit, in addition to hundreds of birds, insects, and other species that depend on the health of this habitat.
Adriana Nava, Ecosystem Regeneration Coordinator, emphasizes that “Nayarit is a key state for this project because it maintains an active jaguar population. Constant monitoring allows us to listen to the site, adapt to it, and create effective conservation strategies.”
The jaguar is not a myth; it is a guardian of the ecosystem.
The return of the jaguar is not just good news for nature lovers. It is a clear sign that conservation efforts are bearing fruit. In a country where biodiversity faces increasing threats, seeing this feline walking among puddles and dragonflies is a powerful reminder that there is still hope… if we protect what truly matters.
Source: ecosfera
