Jaguars, native to the tropical jungles of South America, used to be found in the southwest deserts of Arizona and New Mexico. Though jaguars no longer live in the United States, occasionally one will travel across the border from Mexico.

During the past few years, several jaguars have been seen in Arizona. Mexican researchers are taking advantage of Arizonans’ interest in the cats to bolster their own efforts to preserve the species in Sonora.