Date of Award
8-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Forestry and Environmental Conservation
Committee Chair/Advisor
Shari L. Rodriguez
Committee Member
Kyle Barrett
Committee Member
Patrick J. Rosopa
Committee Member
Esteban Payan
Committee Member
Anna Moeller
Abstract
Jaguars are among the most emblematic large carnivores worldwide. Nonetheless, the species has declined by 25% in less than 25 years and their range has been reduced by 55%, approximately, primarily due to habitat loss from increasing agricultural development, retaliatory killings from human-jaguar conflict, and overhunting of their natural prey. Given the anthropogenic nature of these threats, developing effective coexistence strategies and public support for jaguar conservation are increasingly urgent for the continued persistence of this species. I conducted a scoping review to assess trends and gaps in the existing peer-reviewed literature, grey literature, and news articles related to human-jaguar conflict. Of the 422 publications identified through our search, 192 met the inclusion criteria and were categorized based on four identified themes and one subtheme: 1) human dimensions of conflict, 1.1) jaguar killings, 2) attacks on domestic animals, 3) attacks on humans, and 4) management. The primary remaining gaps include management assessment, policy enforcement, interdisciplinary research, and inclusion of a wider range of stakeholders. To assess public support for jaguar conservation among Colombian urban residents and zoo visitors, I surveyed Bogota residents at public city parks and social media followers and visitors of Barranquilla, Cali, and Medellín Zoos between 2020 and 2024 (n=888). My results suggest high levels of support towards jaguar conservation among Colombia’s urban residents and zoo visitors, highlighting the need to leverage urban support via tangible inputs (e.g., donations, volunteering, advocacy) to further promote Colombia’s conservation efforts. To better understand public support for jaguar conservation in the context of conservation marketing, I applied the Theory of Consumption Values, a consumer behavior framework, to address jaguar conservation as a product and to determine the influence of five values on Colombians’ willingness to “buy into” (i.e., support) jaguar conservation. Regression analyses revealed that functional, emotional, and conditional values, and a greater level of concern for the protection of jaguars were the main factors influencing whether Colombian’s “buy into” jaguar conservation. Thus, future jaguar conservation efforts can encourage pro-jaguar conservation behaviors by effectively conveying such values. Finally, to assess the impact of jaguar and puma predation on livestock in Colombia and the effectiveness of predation mitigation methods (PMMs), I analzed the data collected by Panthera Colombia’s Human-Felid Coexistence Project between 2013 and 2022 (n=606 predation records). Generalized Linear Mixed Models showed that, for both jaguar and pumas, the cost of a predation event was higher closer to forest, and human settlements, and farther from roads and the ranch’s main house. The likelihood of a predation attack occuring after PMM implementation was significantly low overall, but increased during the wet season, farther from water sources and protected areas. Overall, I conclude that the strong willingness to support jaguar conservation among Colombians and the demonstrated effectiveness of PMMs in my study show promise for leveraging pro-conservation behaviors (e.g., donations, volunteering, advocacy) and that coexistence is possible, providing hope for the long-term conservation of jaguars.
Recommended Citation
Solano, Luz Angelica, "From Cities to Ranches: Assessing Public Support for Jaguar (Panthera Onca) Conservation and Livestock Predation in Colombia" (2025). All Dissertations. 4072.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/4072