The story of the Beauval jaguars continues with the arrival of Taima
Taima, an 8-year-old female jaguar who arrived on 22 July from Stuttgart Zoo (Germany), is gradually getting to know her new surroundings at ZooParc de Beauval. Curious and observant, she is writing a new chapter in the history of the jaguars at Beauval. This arrival is particularly significant: Taima is the daughter of Sangha, who was born at Beauval in 2013, and the granddaughter of Laetitia and Miguel, the iconic jaguar who passed away last April.
A smooth arrival
Born on 28 November 2017 at Sóstó Zoo in Hungary, Taima has joined Beauval as part of the EAZA’s Ex situ programme, which aims to preserve a genetically diverse population of jaguars within zoos.
Her journey from Germany went smoothly. As soon as her transport crate was opened, the young female quickly made her way into her new enclosure.
“She came out of the crate very quickly and set off to explore her new surroundings. She was immediately very curious and showed no signs of stress,” said Clothaire Thierry, head of the Big Cats section at ZooParc de Beauval.
For the time being, Taima is staying indoors so that she can gradually find her feet and allow the teams to get to know her. She is due to be introduced to the outdoor enclosure at the Big Cat Woodlands in the coming days.
A female who is quickly settling in
Since her arrival, Taima has impressed the keepers with her calmness and curiosity. Very attentive to her surroundings, she happily spends time observing everything around her… including visitors walking past her enclosure.
“She pays close attention to what’s going on around her. She’s very curious and explores a great deal,” says Clothaire Thierry.
A promising encounter with Laetitia
For the past few days, Taima has been getting to know Laetitia, the female jaguar who has lived at ZooParc de Beauval for nearly twenty years. Born at Berlin Zoo on 6 September 2005, she arrived at Beauval at the age of one on 27 September 2006.
The two jaguars can already see and smell each other through the bars separating their enclosures. Their initial interactions are particularly encouraging. “They’ve already made eye contact and sniffed each other, with no signs of aggression whatsoever. For the moment, everything is going very well,” explains Clothaire Thierry.
An initial physical encounter is planned for the end of August, once Taima has explored her outdoor enclosure. Ultimately, the aim is for them to live together harmoniously.
She pays close attention to what’s going on around her. She’s very curious and loves to explore
A family affair among the jaguars at Beauval
Although born in Hungary in 2017, Taima is no stranger to Beauval. Her mother, Sangha, was born at the ZooParc de Beauval on 24 March 2013 to Miguel and Laetitia. Taima is therefore the granddaughter of Beauval’s two iconic jaguars. This family history lends her arrival a very special significance.
An arrival bringing new prospects
For the animal care teams, Taima’s arrival brings new prospects. In particular, her presence could provide a boost to Laetitia, who is getting on in years and finding it difficult to move around, whilst also opening a new chapter for the ZooParc’s jaguars.
In the longer term, the ZooParc de Beauval hopes to welcome a male to form a new pair of jaguars. As with all animal transfers carried out under the EAZA’s Ex situ programme, this request will be reviewed by the European coordinators, who base their decisions on genetic criteria and the conservation needs of the species. Any potential breeding will then depend on their recommendations.
The jaguar, an extraordinary predator
The third-largest cat in the world, the jaguar has the most powerful bite of any cat. This exceptional strength enables it, in particular, to capture large prey such as capybaras or even caimans, which it sometimes hunts directly in the water. An excellent swimmer, it is also one of the few big cats to move with such ease in aquatic environments.
Found mainly in the tropical forests of Central and South America, the jaguar plays a vital role in the balance of ecosystems. As a top predator at the apex of the food chain, the jaguar helps to regulate the populations of its prey, thereby contributing to the proper functioning of ecosystems and serving as an indicator of their good health.
Classified as ‘near threatened’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the jaguar is primarily threatened by habitat destruction and conflict with humans. The European programmes in which Beauval participates help to preserve a genetically viable population and raise public awareness of the need to protect the species.
With the arrival of Taima, ZooParc de Beauval is continuing its commitment to jaguar conservation. This new ambassador will also help raise visitors’ awareness of the challenges involved in preserving this iconic American species.
