A very old jaguar and her senior son are being welcomed to a specially-made retirement home in a UK zoo.
Wild jaguars typically live for around 12 years, but Bonita is already 16 and her son Remi is 11, having already survived cancer.
The two have lived side-by-side in a safari park since Remi’s birth and will remain together after being transported to their new enclosure at Chester Zoo in England.
The move follows months of planning with experts from Europe’s jaguar conservation program.
“Bonita and Remi are truly special animals, and we’re delighted to be able to provide them with a new retirement home here,” said Dave Hall, Chester Zoo’s Team Manager of Carnivores.
“Bonita has been a devoted mother to Remi throughout his life, so ensuring they stayed together was a real priority for everyone involved.
“Remi’s journey has also been a remarkable one. In 2019, a lump was removed from his head following a diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma, a very aggressive malignant cancer, which makes his continued good health today all the more extraordinary.
“Our teams have worked closely with colleagues from across the UK and Europe to make sure every detail of their move and ongoing care has been fully considered —from transport to the set-up of their new habitat.
“It’s fantastic to see them already settling in and exploring their new surroundings side-by-side,” said Hall in a statement from Chester Zoo, which released a video of the cats prowling around their new home.
MORE GOOD NEWS FOR JAGS:
• Jaguars in Mexico are Growing in Number, a Promising Sign That Conservation Strategies are Working
• 230,000 Acres of Tropical Rainforest Protected as Hotspot For Jaguars in Belize
Jaguars are the largest cat in Latin America and the species is listed as “Near Threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to habitat loss through farming and illegal hunting.
Watch Bonita and Remi in their new home…
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