Introduction to The Jaguar Health Manual

Field Health Manual Guidelines

The main objectives of the Jaguar Health Program are: 1) to provide standardized methods to assess the overall health status of jaguars in the wild; 2) to determine disease threats to jaguars including both direct threats (e.g., infectious diseases - intraspecific and conspecific via domestic animals, livestock, other free-ranging felids, prey items) and indirect threats (e.g., habitat fragmentation and degradation that may increase disease risks); and 3) to provide recommendations, based on findings from the health assessment, for the long-term management and conservation of the jaguar.

The following manual is intended only for field biologists and veterinarians with previous wildlife experience that are working in association with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Jaguar Conservation Program (JCP) (www.savethejaguar.com). This manual is not intended for inexperienced workers. It has been developed by veterinarians with the WCS Field Veterinary Program (www.fieldvet.org). The purpose of this manual is to provide a standardized and safe and ethical approach to capture, handling, and sampling protocols to ensure that the Jaguar Health Program is carried out in a consistent fashion throughout the jaguars’ range. The WCS Field Veterinary Program staff do NOT support the immobilization and handling of any wild animals by inexperienced personnel.

These guidelines have been developed to be "living documents" and will be updated annually as needed. In an effort to make the document more useful, users are encouraged to submit their comments to improve the layout, content, and/or presentation of the material as they work with these guidelines. Any errors or sections that are unclear should also be highlighted. Please direct these comments to the JCP Program Manager, Kathleen Conforti, at the Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460 – 1099 USA. Telephone: 718-220-2189; Fax: 718-364-4275; email: kconforti@wcs.org .

The highest priority for the Jaguar Health Program is the safety of the biologist and the safety and welfare of the animal. It is strongly recommended that the field biologist consult with a veterinarian prior to field work. The veterinarians with the WCS Field Veterinary Program are available for consultation or training sessions for field personnel and consultation on immobilization, handling, and health surveys of jaguars through the JCP. Please contact the Program Manager, Kathleen Conforti, at the Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460 – 1099 USA. Telephone: 718-220-2189; Fax: 718-364-4275; email: kconforti@wcs.org.

All diagnostic and genetic testing will be performed at selected laboratories in the U.S. that are known for their expertise in non-domestic felids. The ability of the Jaguar Health Program staff and personnel to complete these tests successfully is contingent on the exportation of samples from various countries within the jaguars’ range and their importation into the U.S. Jaguars are listed on CITES Appendix I, therefore a CITES import and export permit are required for transporting tissue samples into the U.S. The JCP is developing a blanket permit for these samples, however, in the meantime, it is imperative that appropriate research permits are in place before transporting any samples. Researchers that collect samples for health analyses should ensure that they are able to store samples in country if there are any delays in permit processing. Permits must be issued by both the importing and exporting countries. In most instances, an export permit will not be issued until a valid import permit is presented to the office issuing the export. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Management Authority is the Governmental agency which currently issues CITES import permits for the United States. In general, written proof of permission to work in the host country is required when applying for an import permit. For more information on permit requirements, visit http://international.fws.gov/permits/permits.html or refer to permit guidelines on the Field Veterinary Program Website (www.fieldvet.org)under "Resources / Technical Pages".Click Here To Download The Jaguar Health Manual