Assessment of jaguars Panthera onca (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) and their prey in Manu National Park

Abstract

Protected areas, such as the 17,000 km² Manu National Park in Peru, are important for vulnerable species such as the jaguar, and population studies are needed to understand their conservation status. We did a short-term study using 136 paired camera traps stations deployed in three blocks across an area of ​​820 km² in Manu National Park to estimate: the density and distribution of jaguars, evaluate the availability and distribution of key prey (eight mammals and a bird), and investigate the use of space by predators, using occupancy models that considered environmental variables, prey availability, and competitors. Most prey species had an occupancy (psi) greater than 0.70, without clear patterns in the use of space. The use of space was intensive for ocelot (psi = 0.83, ES = 0.08) and jaguar (psi = 0.67, ES = 0.33), and less intensive for puma (psi = 0.25, SE = 0.07), yet without clear patterns related to the environmental variables we evaluated, the availability of prey and the presence of competitors. We estimate a jaguar density of 2 (ES=0.92; 95% CI =0.8-4.7) to 2.5 (ES=1.07, 95% CI = 1.1-5.6) ind/100 km², corresponding to a population of 193-241 jaguars for the lowlands of Manu.  We conclude that jaguars are apparently abundant, both large carnivores and their prey can be found throughout the lowlands of the park, and their presence is not affected by spatial variations in habitat and human pressures.