Bolivia achieves first release of captive jaguar into the wild

A female jaguar named Yaguara was released into Noel Kempff Mercado National Park on 5 June, marking a breakthrough in Bolivian jaguar conservation.

• CIWY and partner organisations released Yaguara into the 1.5-million-hectare park on 5 June, the first successful rehabilitation of a jaguar for wild release in Bolivia.
• Yaguara had been in captivity since August 2024 after being orphaned as a cub during Bolivia's worst recorded wildfire season.
• Biologist Iván Márquez said the release has changed the history of jaguar conservation in the country.
• Márquez said the $120,000 release laid the groundwork for future releases and that "this is likely to be the first of many."