Walking for the Jaguars of Sierra Vallejo

Tara A. Spears

Without our help, the vanishing jaguar will not exist in Nayarit. One caring man, Javier Magaña, has spent more than 20 years striving to help ranchers and hunters find a way to coexist peacefully with the jaguar. Last month’s fundraiser walk in Guayabitos brought together dedicated volunteers trying to protect the jaguars of Sierra Vallejo, Nayarit, with T-shirts, an auction and photographs of participants raising money for the jaguar project. Even the boxer, Armando “Toro” Resendiz, showed up to support the cause. Donations are still welcome at the Clinica San Miguel Arcangel in Los Ayala, or you can contact the project directly to help protect Nayarit’s jaguars.

Before humans took over their habitat these magnificent cats roamed through much of Mexico. Today, they are considered endangered and nearly extinct. But hikers can still see their tracks in the dirt around remote villages and the thick jungles of Nayarit. Factors that have contributed to the reduction in jaguar habitat are the impact of human encroachment, such as foreign developers wanting to build mega resorts, the completion of the 4 lane bypass toll road into Vallarta, and the expansion of cattle ranches. “There are more livestock in Sierra Vallejo than wildlife so cattle are a regular part of the jaguar’s diet.”

As of 2024 the Sierra de Vallejo, Nayarit, was made a new protected area by the federal government. This sparsely inhabited area of 225,300 hectares is divided into 13 buffer areas for jaguars. Wildlife conservationists have been seeking to have a preservation declared since 1999. The environmentalist and founder of Sangre Azul Kennel Jaguar Protection, Javier Magaña, noted that Sierra Vallejo is listed among the areas with the largest number of jaguars in 2024. However, there have been 26 cattle killed already in 2026 (and the jaguars responsible rehomed).

Javier and his volunteers work to mediate cohabitation between jaguars and the ranchers by setting camera traps — activated by motion sensors — placed simultaneously in areas believed to be jaguar territory. When a jaguar kills livestock, Javier’s team uses tracking dogs to try to move the jaguar deeper into the jungle, away from ranches. The dogs help locate the jaguars and scare them off so the jaguars don’t get killed by the angry cattleman.

Mingling with wild creatures is an essential part of nearly every experience in Mexico. More than 500 species of mammals roam the country, and nearly 9,000 species of birds either inhabit the country or pass through on annual migrations. But the loss of the magnificent jaguar is too horrible to contemplate; it deserves protection. If you are out of town and would like to help, contact the Sangre Azul Kennel Jaguar Protection project to arrange a donation.