Photographing wild jaguars

Arizona Docent

Arizona Docent

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
Here is a cool video interviewing Steve Winter of Panthera on how he photographs wild jaguars. (The only problem is the very opening segment - about the first two seconds - has the sound of a lion roar superimposed, because jaguars do not roar like that). But it is very interesting if you are a wild cat lover and a photographer like myself. My brother went to the same area on a nature tour about a year ago and he did get a couple good photos of jaguars on the riverbank like that.

Photographing the Elusive Jaguar | Smithsonian.com

BTW, this video is on the Smithsonian website because the cover story of the October 2011 issue of Smithsonian magazine is on jaguars and Panthera's work to protect them.
 
I, too, had privilenge of photographing wild Jaguars in Pantanal. However, it is not exactly elusive or difficult - at one point 15 boats watched Jaguar sitting/dozing. Still impressive beast.

Our agent was Wildwings. Also interesting was sitting 1m from wild Maned Wolves, which come every night to feed at one Brazilian monastery. They actually tower over you. Like feeding urban fox - very, very, very big fox!
 
I had heard of that maned wolf situation many years ago, but I thought it was a thing of the past. Interesting to hear they still do it. I believe my brother's trip was Wildwings also (not positive) and he saw a lot of animals but maned wolf is one he wanted that they missed.

Wildlife photographers Joe & MaryAnn McDonald also lead a tour specifically for photographers to get jaguar etc in Pantanal. Out of my price range, but I would do it if I could. I met them years ago at a small nature photo conference here in Tucson and they are just a really nice couple.

Domestic Photo Tours and Workshops catering to Digital Nature Photographers
 
Last edited:
Here is the McDonalds trip report from their Pantanal trip earlier this month (September 2011). Man do I wish I could afford that.

"This Jaguar Photo Safari marks our fourth to the Pantanal, beginning four years ago when two friends and I did a scouting trip and found all the claims of great jaguar shooting to be accurate. We based ourselves at two locations, one a land-based lodge where we spent the first night and our last two nights, and five nights on a houseboat in the heart of jaguar country.
We had 8 good Jaguar sightings, representing 5 different jaguars, and some excellent Giant Otter sightings and photography. On two occasions the sightings and shooting was extensive: Mary had a pair of Jaguar brothers for near 1.5 hours, almost a full hour before the rest of the group reached her. These Jaguars were hunting, disappearing for short times before reappearing on the river edge again. On the last day of the trip we had a Jaguar at our land-based lodge, and this female proved to be one of the most cooperative and exciting cats we’re ever filmed. We had her for hours, ending our observations after watching her hunt for caimens and fish and swimming across a river where, as the light continued to fail, we left her to continue her hunts. Over the years the Giant Otters have become increasingly accessible -- our first two years we were happy to even get a chance at a halfway decent shot, and now we’re doing headshots and all types of close-up behaviors. The shooting has only gotten better."
 
Wildwings is based in Britain, probably it has partner company in USA.

Giant otters in Pantanal are common and not shy, often swimming very close. I think they used to be fed fish from tourist boats. Our trip was aiming for different mammals, with many close sightings of giant anteaters, several of tamandua, brazilian tapir, ocelot, northern muriqui, many commoner mammals and some choice birds.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top