World’s First Jaguar Born By Artificial Insemination Was Eaten By Its Mom

A jaguar gave birth to a cub through artificial insemination, a first of its kind, but then ate her offspring.

At the Brazilian environmental organization Mata Ciliar, a team of veterinarians celebrated the birth as a milestone in scientific achievement, given the ongoing challenges in conserving this endangered species.

Jaguars are facing a tough battle for survival, with their numbers quickly dwindling in the wild.

The unfortunate demise of this significant cub was somewhat anticipated by researchers, who noted that such behavior isn't rare "both in captivity and in nature, especially in the case of carnivores."

The cub came into the world in February 2019, exactly 104 days after its mother, Bianca—a five-year-old jaguar—underwent artificial insemination.

Speaking to FocusOn News, Samuel Nunes, a representative from Mata Ciliar, explained: "Unfortunately after two days, the cub died.

"We don't know why and cannot say if it was killed by the mother because it was not seen on the monitors on the second day.

"Bianca was a first-time mother and this may have influenced the outcome of the event.

"The veterinary team could not conduct a necropsy because the baby had already been eaten." 

A video documenting this landmark birth showcases several preceding steps.

These steps include a veterinarian sedating a healthy male jaguar, harvesting fresh semen, analyzing the sperm in a laboratory, and then implanting the reproductive cells into Bianca to create the cub.

The initiative at Mata Ciliar began in 2017 and involves collaboration with globally recognized experts from the Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife.

Bianca was among five female jaguars chosen for this experimental procedure.

Selection was based on her health, age, and reproductive potential.

Nunes further mentioned: "The project required intensive preparation even before artificial insemination could be started.

"The five females selected to participate in the project had to undergo a conditioning process that aimed to reduce their levels of stress.

Tambako the Jaguar/Getty

"This limited the need to anesthetize them particularly during procedures such as ultrasound, administering hormones and medications."

Dr. Bill Swanson from CREW highlighted the project's significance to the NY Post, saying:

"The jaguar is the last of the seven species of large-sized felines to undergo artificial insemination. 

"The birth of this cub is an important historical landmark.

"It invigorates the possibility of the use of assisted reproduction as a management tool that increases the genetic variability of populations and the conservation of these endangered cats."