National Geographic article on the Pantanal wetlands

I found this interesting excerpt from an article about the Pantanal wetlands in National Geographic: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/static-legacy/ngm/0508/feature3/

What struck me most was the description of jaguar hunting. It surprised me that some Pantaneiros still kill these protected animals and that no one has bothered cracking down on them. I also found it odd that revenge was one key motivator in the decision to kill jaguars- that farmers felt the need to destroy the jaguars that were responsible for killing their prized bulls. This brings up an important issue: the relationship between the people of the Pantanal and their environment. Since the Pantanal is mostly privately owned, this conflict of interest- between the peoples' need for subsistence and the wetland's need for a diversity of creatures to support the food chain- will probably continue to intensify until either the laws are strictly enforced to protect the Pantanal or the animals become extinct. I hope that promoting awareness about the threats to the Pantanal can help us avoid the latter.

When we actually go on the trip to the Pantanal, it will be interesting to talk to some Pantaneiros and see what their view is of jaguar hunting. Do they consider it necessary and part of their way of life, or do they recognize the detrimental effects it has on the wetlands?  It would also be a cool extension to gather some data on the jaguar population in recent years to see if their population has been decreasing or increasing. This analysis could help determine how effective the policies against jaguar hunting have been, which could help Brazilian policy-makers modify their laws to better protect the jaguars.

-Gwynn