The Napo Basin, shared between Ecuador and Peru, is one of the most megadiverse spots in the world. This region in the Ecuadorian Amazon protects thousands and thousands of square kilometers, including important conservation reserves such as the Pañacocha Protected Forest, Yasuni National Park, and the Limoncocha Biological Reserve, along with the territory of the Kichwa communities embracing Coca to Nuevo Rocafuerte on the border with Peru.
Sani biodiversity
Our reserve of the Kichwa community Sani Isla, where Sani Lodge is located, protects around 40,000 hectares in which can be frequently seen footprints of cats such as puma, jaguar, ocelots, margays, as well as top predators like harpies, anacondas, which are good indicators of how healthy the ecosystem is.
How we met the cat
There was news of a jaguar hunting the dogs of the Kichwa families living on the sides of the Napo River, who mentioned that they could hear absolutely nothing at night. Thus, the hunt was very stealthy. This wild cat was sighted in one of the salt licks, and some key photos were taken since the individual was missing an eye.
A tiger in the jungle?
Guiding a family in the canopy tower while leaning on a handrail, I took a look straight down to the ground, getting a breathtaking surprise because a jaguar was resting peacefully on the steps about 8 meters high. This fact reminds me of my childhood when the circuses used to bring tigers in cages because the feline lying down with the bars in front of him gave the impression of being caged. Was that a dream?
Peace of mind
The jaguar was calm, wagging its tail; after the shock, I alerted our guests, who approached the handrail with the fortune that one of the girls took a picture. There were other tourists on a higher platform to whom I let know of the jaguar’s presence. They began to descend to our spot, but with the noise made, the jaguar became alert and ran into the forest. They didn’t even catch a glimpse of it.
Back again
We were talking about the unique sighting when one of the girls discovered that the jaguar had returned, but this time at only 4 meters from the ground. We could see all the body details, including the head, this time with the help of the binoculars. We noticed that it was the famous single-eye jaguar.
While climbing down the tower, despite our effort to be very quiet, the cat noticed our presence and definitely ran towards the forest. Once on the ground, we saw the huge footprints, and the guests took pictures to evidence a one–in–a–lifetime experience.
It could be the day.
It was my third sight in 20 years of guidance in the Ecuadorian Amazon; this fact explains how hard it is to watch a jaguar in the wild because there is a generalized idea, as National Geographic shows, that in half an hour you can see a caiman wrestling with an anaconda or a jaguar eating a caiman. A bit of luck is all you need besides the right time and spot if the forest permits; it has the last word.
A fellow guide with a couple of German people spotted a jaguar in the Chorongo Largo trail just a couple of months ago, and they even got time to make a short video.
This time, it was not the single-eye jaguar.
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