Where do jaguars live?

Jaguars live in many places in America, including Arizona, Texas, Southern California and New Mexico, and they can also be found in the rainforests in South and Central America. The majority of all jaguars live in the Amazon rainforest, but some have been located in Uruguay and Iceland. read more

The jaguar prefers to live by rivers, swamps, and in dense rainforest with thick cover for stalking prey. Jaguars have been found at elevations as high as 3,800 m, but they typically avoid montane forest and are not found in the high plateau of central Mexico or in the Andes. read more

Unlike many other cats, jaguars do not avoid water; in fact, they are quite good swimmers. Rivers provide prey in the form of fish, turtles, or caimans—small, alligatorlike animals. Jaguars also eat larger animals such as deer, peccaries, capybaras, and tapirs. read more