Jaguar Sighted in Honduras Mountain Range for First Time in Decade

A jaguar was captured on a camera trap in Honduras' Sierra del Merendón mountain range on February 6, 2026, marking the first confirmed sighting in the area in 10 years, according to conservation organization Panthera. The organization announced the sighting last week, describing the animal as a young male.

Jaguars have lost nearly half their historic range across the Americas. Conservationists have identified deforestation and poaching as major threats. Panthera has implemented measures including increased ranger patrols, hidden acoustic monitors, camera trap networks, and programs to reintroduce prey species such as deer and peccaries.

Wildlife Recoveries Poaching has decreased in the area, according to Panthera, contributing to the return of large cats. Pumas were detected in the range in 2021 for the first time in nearly 20 years. Ocelots, jaguarundis, and margays have also been documented, resulting in all five wild cat species known in Honduras now present in the Merendón.

The Honduran government has supported these efforts through its Zero Deforestation Plan 2029, deploying 8,000 military troops to address illegal logging and agricultural encroachment, and committing to restore over 3.2 million acres of forest by the end of the decade.

The sighted jaguar is likely transient, moving between Honduras and Guatemala in search of females, according to conservation experts. Honduras has small jaguar populations, with 10 to 18 animals in Jeannette Kawas National Park and 20 to 50 in Pico Bonito National Park. Experts emphasize that connectivity between territories is essential for the species' survival.