America’s Big Cats

THE jaguar is the largest and most powerful wild cat of America. Once found as far north as the United States, it is now restricted to Mexico and Central and South America. The ancient Maya Indians held the animal in awe because of its strength and courage and worshipped it as a god.

The jaguar is of a heavier build than a leopard and though both animals have more or less the same colour, the jaguar's spots are larger.

The jaguar is a great fish eater. It puts its tail in the water and wriggles the tip till a fish bites. Then it pulls it out. Besides fish, the jaguar feeds on big and small animals like the deer, wild pig and turtle. Once a kill is made, the jaguar drags it away to a safe place and buries it there. It then returns several times to feed on the kill.

Another big American cat is the puma, often mistaken for a lioness. Its shoulders are powerful and its large paws have long claws with terrrific ripping power. The puma's colour varies from yellowish brown to red and is darker during winter. Unlike the jaguar, the puma does not have spots on its body.

The puma leads a solitary life, keeping very much out of sight. It is known for its stamina and strength and can cover up to 6 metres in one bound. It can, if necessary, drop to the ground from a height of 18 metres. Like the jaguar, the puma eats an amazing variety of animals. It hunts mainly at night, stalking its prey over great distances. Its blood curdling screams adds to the impression that it is a very ferocious animal, but the cat rarely attacks humans.