P05_098

Complicity of the Jaguar
Jaguar, or in Tupi, iauaretê (Panthera onca).
This photograph was taken at the CIGS (Jungle Warfare Instruction Center), where soldiers raise jaguars as mascots. The jaguar arrived with a soldier holding her by the collar, and there were a half-dozen other soldiers, presumably to ensure my safety. I said, “Can you release the cat?” The soldier looked at the officer standing next to me, who nodded in agreement. At first, the cat was calm, found a corner, and lay down, watching the human activity, and I was just one of them. I asked the trainer if it was possible to make the jaguar stand up and walk on the trail. So he reached for the collar, but the jaguar didn’t like it and protested. Although I was standing next to jaguar, I preferred to think that the protest was not directed at me, and with this assumption, I stayed there and took the picture with the flash. That was the cover photo, and the feline calmed down again. I felt a certain complicity with the jaguar, not just because of the photograph. Perhaps the jaguar saw something magical in that flash of light, or maybe the flash concealed me. But, of course, I prefer to think it was complicity.

P05_098 – Leonide Principe
Camera Nikon F5 with Nikkor lens 80-200mm f2.8 – Diapositive Film Fujichrome Velvia 50 – Scanner: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 5000 ED
Digitised from a positive on film –
Original file size: 5362px x 3619px
Location Taken: Floresta do CIGS (Manaus – Amazonas Brazil)
Date Taken: 1998
Collection: Big cats – Persons shown: none
Keywords:
onça-pintada, iauaretê, jaguar, Panthera onca, felinos, cats, felids, Felinae, mamíferos, mammals, FAUNA, animals, Manaus, Manaos, Amazonas, Amazônia, Amazon, Amazonian, Brazil, Brasil, Brazilian, América do Sul, South America
EN1 Complicity of the jaguar P05_098
PT1 Cumplicidade da onça P05_098
© – Leonide Principe, all right reserved
https://leonideprincipe.photos

P05_099

Jaguar or, in Tupi, iauaretê (Panthera onca).
According to popular common sense, the jaguar is not poked with a short stick. The jaguar is an unknown being. In biology it was classified, but the study and description of behaviors is quite rare. Equally rare are humans who have a direct relationship with the animal. The biologist is the most qualified ambassador among humans, let’s say the official relationship. There is a photographer or another who takes on the task of showing the image to the general public. There is also the tourist guide who prides himself on jaguar observation among his products. There is the cattle breeder who lives close to the forests, he is always ready to eliminate the greatest threat to his cattle. A while ago there was the hunter who supplied the high bourgeoisie with luxurious clothing made from the skin of the feline. This remaining hunter is the one who responds to the farmer’s request when the jaguar attacks the farm.
What still does not exist is a collective awareness of the importance of preserving felines. It is true that where human occupation subtracts forests from their residents, it does so in such a self-serving and unilateral manner that there is no room for the needs of the original residents. Collective awareness is the first step: it starts with the production of knowledge and the effective presence of experts in conflict areas. This presence works side by side with the farmers and neighborhood, compensating damages in case of attacks and monitoring the area to prevent accidents. More daring jaguars can be removed from the human frontier to large forests. Certainly, based on knowledge and ecoliteracy, the collective conscience will be built to find a way to preserve the jaguars.

P05_099 – Leonide Principe
Camera Nikon F5 with Nikkor lens 80-200mm f2.8 – Diapositive Film Fujichrome Velvia 50 – Scanner: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 5000 ED
Digitised from a positive on film –
Original file size: 5362px x 3619px
Location Taken: Floresta do CIGS (Manaus – Amazonas Brazil)
Date Taken: 1998
Collection: Big cats – Persons shown: none
Keywords:
onça-pintada, iauaretê, jaguar, Panthera onca, felinos, cats, felids, Felinae, mamíferos, mammals, FAUNA, animals, Manaus, Manaos, Amazonas, Amazônia, Amazon, Amazonian, Brazil, Brasil, Brazilian, América do Sul, South America
EN2 Collective awareness P05_099
PT2 Consciência coletiva P05_099
© – Leonide Principe, all right reserved
https://leonideprincipe.photos