Jaguars are the third largest cat in the world just behind the African lion and the tiger. Historically, the jaguar was seen in far eastern Texas, coastal Louisiana, and northern parts of Arizona and New Mexico. However, since the 1940s, the jaguar has been limited to southern areas of Arizona, but even there they are extremely rare.
This image of a large male was captured in the wilds of Brazil’s Pantanal, a place where these animals still roam free in great numbers. The Pantanal is one of my favorite places in the world, not just for seeing jaguars, but the bird life is equally impressive.