Cats of the Pantanal 2017
Jaguars and ocelets in the jungles of Brazil
Our hotel, called the Jaguar Flotel, on the Piquiri River in the southern part of the Brazilian Pantanal.
On our first outing cruising down the river we encounted our first jaguar.
The light was fantastic and the jaguar was not bothered by our presence.
After strolling along the river bank, our beautiful jaguar decided to rest . . .
. . . and pose for our cameras. We were maybe 40 yards from the cat.
I was surprised how many other boats full of photographers showed up once a jaguar was spotted.
Maybe this snarl was the jaguar's way of expressing his displeasure with our invasion of her privacy.
So she rose and trotted off.
But now we see why! Our young lady had a playmate.
And they played
and they cuddled
And tusseled with each other
and snarled playfully
and more posturing
and a peaceful rest.
One came to the water to quench her thirst
And watched us watching her. It was an exhilirating start for our first observation of jaguars in the wild.
The next day we were out searching for more jaguars. This is our companion boat cruising along.
Our boat driver got a call that a jaguar had been spotted. We held onto our gear and hats, racing to the location to see this jaguar in the bush.
A closer view, and then she disappeared into the bush.
About 100 yards downstream she popped out of the bush again.
I think jaguars know they are photogenic. This one stopped to pose for us in the beautiful late afternoon light, called the "golden hour."
And then she gave us a big yawn.
Back into the bush she went only to suddenly appear on this log farther downstream.
We floated up closer to her. The only noise was the clicking of our cameras. Feeling no risk from the jaguar because we were in a boat, we seemed not to distress the animal in any way.
Our jaguar decided to take a stroll along the river bank, and of course we followed.
It was another magnificient afternoon to photograph these impressive animals.
When the path along the river bank disappeared our lady jag went for a swim.
Jags are good swimmers and like caimans for a snack.
The wet look is not so becoming.
Exhausted, it was time for a rest.
Once again, we were not alone in obsereving this impressive cat.
As the light faded and our cat wandered into the grass, we headed back to our Flotel feeling richly rewarded.
The next morning we were searching the river banks for more jaguars and birds (see the Birds of the Pantanal gallery).
We occasionally saw native fishermen with simple poles fishing for the day's meal.
We spotted this jaguar tucked into the woods of the shaded river bank.
Then we spotted this cat who quickly disappeared in the jungle.
Next we came upon this fellow.
Quickly trhe jaguar paparazzis gathered to watch him, including us.
The jaguar was having a lazy day. He sat, laid, and groomed himself while we waited for some type of action. We waited 7 hours, well beyond my "patience" level, but nowhere could I go.
He stared at us.
We watched him groom himself.
He stared some more!
At last, after a long wait, we were rewarded as he moved toward us.
At first he went into his hunting prowl.
But then he became curious about the crowd that had gathered to see him.
So he sat up to get a better look.