First documented predation of a Baird’s tapir by a jaguar in the Calakmul region, Mexico

Researchers document the first confirmed case of jaguar predation on a Baird’s tapir, distinguishing it from scavenging. In August 2017, a jaguar was observed feeding on a juvenile female tapir in Calakmul, Mexico, with skull analysis revealing the characteristic 'lethal bite' used by jaguars to kill prey. This finding provides critical evidence of jaguar predation behavior, particularly targeting vulnerable tapirs, and contributes to understanding the ecological dynamics between these apex predators and their prey in Mesoamerican forests.

Pérez-Flores, J., Arias-Domínguez, H., & Arias-Domínguez, N. (2020). First documented predation of a Baird’s tapir by a jaguar in the Calakmul region, Mexico. Neotropical Biology and Conservation, 15(4), 453–461. https://doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.15.e57029