Density of the Near Threatened jaguar <i>Panthera onca</i> in the caatinga of north-eastern Brazil

Abstract We report the first estimate of jaguar density in the semi-arid caatinga biome of north-eastern Brazil. During August–October 2007, in the Serra da Capivara National Park, we used camera traps to identify and count jaguars. Jaguar abundance and density were calculated using mark-recapture models. In a sampling effort of 1,249 camera-trap-nights we identified 12 adult jaguars and estimated an abundance of 14 ± SE 3.6 jaguars in an area of 524 km 2 , i.e. a density of 2.67 ± SE 1.00 jaguars per 100 km 2 . This estimate is higher than in most other Brazilian biomes and indicates Serra da Capivara National Park as an important reserve for protecting jaguars in north-eastern Brazil.