Macho B

[FurthurOnTheFly]

An interesting new update on the condition of Macho B's kidneys at time of death:

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/03/29/20090329jaguar-ON.html

 

[Colorado David]

Why was there such a rush to euthanize this animal? Animals in the wild die. We have a peculiar need to abrogate suffering that is unnatural. Pain is an unavoidable part of survival. I understand that when we have a pet that is suffering from a terminal condition we may choose to euthanize to prevent its suffering, but part of that may be to give us as humans peace about their passing. This may be an unpopular view, but survival is a fight. I think this animal should have been given the opportunity to fight. We can't go euthanize every animal in the wild that shows symptoms of kidney failure. There may have been some sense of culpability in this case that sped the process.

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

Unfortunately, the story on Macho B gets much, much worse. It appears that the researcher in charge of the snares baited the one that caught the 16-year-old Macho B with female jaguar scat from the Tucson zoo. If true, I hope he burns.

This will give a black eye to the Borderlands Jaguar Project and citizen science in general. It will give the radical antis fuel to claim that "all" conservationists are liars out for their own glory.

http://www.azstarnet.com/news/287095

 

[FurthurOnTheFly]

Oy vey...what a mess!

 

[goodtimes]

I think "black eye" is an understatement.

When they get to the bottom of this mess, I certainly hope that the individuals responsible (assuming the whole thing was not a fabrication) are delt with in an appropriate manner...and the entire community is made aware of it.

 

[Co-opski]

Thanks for the updates everyone.

 

[Purple People Eater]

What's the news on this case? I'm talking to a friend who was just informed that there are wild jaguars in AZ. I had to tell him the unfortunate news...

Are there anymore developments?

 

[DesertRose]

What's the news on this case? I'm talking to a friend who was just informed that there are wild jaguars in AZ. I had to tell him the unfortunate news...

Are there anymore developments?

Sad, isn't it?

Federal (criminal) investigation "ongoing" according to USFWS and AGFD.

Some of us suspect some foot-dragging though it can't be proven.

Bad story all around. Bad for conservation. Bad for science. Bad for the jaguars, of course.

Happy story, though: Overland Society is working with a rancher in Sonora, Mex, who has ocelots and jaguars on his land and he's a keen conservationist. His ranch, El Aribabi Conservation Ranch, is a great destination with a bed and breakfast lodge, perfect for groups, very reasonable.

Check out our trip report: http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34144

 

[FurthurOnTheFly]

Bit of an update: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/01/21/20100121jaguar-death-macho-b-arizona.html

Sounds like they might be getting closer to actually pressing charges.

 

[DesertRose]

Big surprise here - at least on my part! I didn't think they'd go this road. Thought they'd quiet it down and then shelve it. Very good. I am happy to hear that the wheels of justice are moving along.

The big thing of course is to keep working on jaguar conservation where they are living and breeding in northern Mexico.

Some day I will hopefully see one live, but I'm so happy to have heard Macho B calling in his prime so many years ago - doing the big-cat roar - in our own state of Arizona!

 

[ThomD]

State Employee Fired over Capture of Macho B

(03-19-10) 19:36 PDT PHOENIX (AP) --

The Arizona Game and Fish Department has fired an employee based on results of an internal investigation into the capture and death of what was the only known wild jaguar in the U.S.

Officials said Friday that 40-year-old Thornton W. Smith was a field biologist and had been with the agency 12 years.

He was involved in the placement and monitoring of traps used in a black bear and mountain lion research project that resulted in the initial capture of the jaguar called "Macho B."

The cat was found snared in a Game and Fish trap on Feb. 18, 2009. It was recaptured due to health problems and euthanized less than two weeks later.

Game and Fish officials say Smith acknowledged that he misled federal investigators regarding facts surrounding the jaguar's original capture.

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

Thanks for posting that, Thom. The news simply confirmed what we knew all along, that a G&F officer was in on the whole scheme. What we still don't know is if it went any higher up the chain of command.

 

[Purple People Eater]

This subject really grinds my gears. Jonathan and Roseanne, what can someone like me do to help more with the conservation efforts of such a majestic animal? I know you guys are the conservation experts, and I applaud and admire your involvement and dedication.

 

[Ursidae69]

Thanks for posting that, Thom. The news simply confirmed what we knew all along, that a G&F officer was in on the whole scheme. What we still don't know is if it went any higher up the chain of command.

That's a pretty damning accusation to make J against an organization who has a long and rich history of conservation in your state, not mention an organization you recently highlighted in your magazine.

Let's link the actual news story: http://www.azstarnet.com/news/science/environment/article_d86189d0-9a97-588b-afba-d19388143779.html

From the story:

Smith, 40, said biologist Emil McCain told him he had put jaguar scat at two sites near the area where Macho B was captured a year ago southwest of Tucson, the Arizona Game and Fish Department revealed late Friday.

The great jaguar advocate (ha) Emil McCain is the real criminal here, directing those under him to place scat at snare locations. I wonder how long until all is forgotten and Emil is working for some new NGO?

 

[DesertRose]

That's a pretty damning accusation to make J against an organization who has a long and rich history of conservation in your state, not mention an organization you recently highlighted in your magazine.

Let's link the actual news story: http://www.azstarnet.com/news/science/environment/article_d86189d0-9a97-588b-afba-d19388143779.html

From the story:

The great jaguar advocate (ha) Emil McCain is the real criminal here, directing those under him to place scat at snare locations. I wonder how long until all is forgotten and Emil is working for some new NGO?

Like any large organization, Chuck, there are fantastic people working for them, and some putzes. I am a former Arizona Game and Fish Commission Heritage Fund Committee member and I long have lauded AGFD for its work - and I still do. We still volunteer with them. But when there's a bad apple or two, we need to toss them out. Some of us still suspect a few people higher up who probably knew more, and quietly let the lower down do what they did. . . then hung them out when the you know what hit the fan.

But that's speculation. Fact is the biologist did something stupid, he knew it, and he admitted it.