Jaguars once ranged as far north as the Grand Canyon -- but only a few have been documented in the U.S. since 1971.
One in particular -- a 16-year-old dubbed Macho B -- was the most photographed jaguar in the U.S.
Late last month, Macho B was inadvertently caught during a research project, and Arizona Department of Game and Fish officials took the opportunity to fit him with a GPS collar. Researchers were excited at the prospect of studying the behavior of jaguars in the U.S. based on the data that Macho B would send back.
But that excitement turned to sadness. Days later, Macho B had to be euthanized when it was determined that he was suffering from terminal kidney failure.
Our fight for U.S. jaguars lives on. Later this month, Defenders will be in court to force federal officials to develop a recovery plan for U.S. jaguars -- a move the Bush Administration refused to take on.
http://www.defenders.org/programs_and_policy/wildlife_conservation/imperiled_species/jaguar/macho_b_obituary.php