Published on March 27, 2025
Camera trap data reveals a flourishing population of the iconic big cat in Canandé, a private reserve established by Fundación Jocotoco, a Cartier for Nature partner.
A century ago, the Ecuadorian Chocó, in the country’s northwest, was almost entirely covered by lush lowland rainforests boasting a mindboggling diversity of unique plants and animals. Ruling over this thriving ecosystem was the king of the forest and the most iconic cat species in the Americas, the jaguar.Today, most of the Chocó’s old-growth forests are gone; cut down by logging companies and replaced by plantations of African oil palm and other commodities. While it remains a global biodiversity hotspot, the wholesale destruction of ecosystems has left many of the Chocó’s irreplaceable species vulnerable to risk of extinction – and the local jaguar population has dwindled dramatically. Studies estimate that fewer than 150 jaguars remain in all of western Ecuador including the Chocó, and they have completely vanished from large parts of the region.
However, in the midst of this devastation, the Canandé Reserve stands as a beacon of hope. Created in 2000 by the Fundación Jocotoco, a Cartier for Nature partner, the reserve has flourished, with forests reclaiming previously cleared pastures and wildlife returning to the area in droves. Over the past 25 years, Canandé has gradually grown to a size of 18,000 hectares, offering a refuge for many rare and threatened species, including the jaguar.To better understand and conserve Canandé’s exceptional biodiversity, Fundación Jocotoco has set up a state-of-the-art monitoring system across the reserve, relying on mobile technology, AI-driven analysis software and a network of sophisticated sensors, including automated microphones and cameras. These sensors can pick up the presence and abundance of animals, but also detect threats such as illegal loggers or poachers, allowing Jocotoco and the authorities to take action when and where it is needed.
A recent analysis of the data gathered by Jocotoco’s camera traps has shown that Canandé is home to at least 11 jaguars — 8 females and 3 males, mostly adults. This represents one of the highest densities of these big cats in the entire Chocó region. It’s a sign of hope for a species that is increasingly being pushed to the brink across the continent.
Beyond the number of jaguars, the camera trap data also provided insights into their behaviour. It revealed that these felines prefer areas with abundant prey, such as peccaries, but steer clear of places with significant human activity. They were also shown to use the landscape strategically, moving through forest corridors where they are most likely to find food and shelter. These insights will inform Jocotoco’s future conservation efforts – for example, ramping up efforts to ensure connectivity between the most suitable habitat zones to ensure jaguars can move about the landscape safely.