Page 23 - Demo

23In the dappled twilight of the rainforest, the jaguar, prowls like a ghost, its golden eyes glowing with the fire of a thousand suns. A hungry jaguar can operate in almost total darkness %u2013 its saucer-like eyes using just a sixth of the light required by humans. Jaguars will prey on almost any wild animal they come across. Jaguars stalk and ambush their ground-dwelling prey at night, instead of chasing prey like cheetahs and lions do. Jaguars, meaning %u201cthe beast that kills in one bound%u201d, tend to be solitary creatures, living an elusive lifestyle that is both diurnal and nocturnal. Camouflaged with iconic rosettes, jaguars are skilled climbers and are able to scale trees when hunting.The river%u2019s overgrown banks provide perfect cover for jaguars. Water to drink, shade from the sun, and a good view to survey their preferred hunting domain.THE JAGUARJaguars have been recorded hunting very large reptiles such as the Orinoco crocodile. They also prey on turtles and tortoises and have been known to go after prey as large as boa constrictors and anacondas. Their strong jaws mean that they can easily pierce the skulls of their prey species..These mighty cats play a crucial ecological role as apex predators within Chiribiquete%u2019s intricate web of life. Their presence maintains the balance of prey populations and shapes the dynamics of forest ecosystems.Jaguars feature in the spiritual view of several ancestral cultures, usually perceived as a symbol of power and strength. Still today, Chiribiquete%u2019s indigenous cultures consider jaguars the embodiment and essence of resilience and adaptability that define life.