Cattle ranchers' attitudes to conflicts with jaguar in the Pantanal of Brazil

Zimmermann, Walpole, and Leader-Williams surveyed cattle ranchers across the Brazilian Pantanal to understand attitudes toward jaguars and pumas amid livestock depredation. They found that ranchers frequently killed big cats in retaliation and out of a culture of predator persecution, and that perceived losses, economic pressure, and tradition shaped hostility more than verified depredation alone. The study highlighted gaps between actual and believed losses and the role of husbandry, ranch size, and attitudes in conflict intensity. The authors recommended improved husbandry, economic incentives, and engagement with ranchers' values. The work is a foundational social-science study of jaguar conflict in a globally important stronghold for the species.