I Stand with El Jefe, America's Only Wild Jaguar
New video has been released showing the only known wild jaguar in the United States in his natural habitat in southern Arizona, where he's been living for more than three years. The stunning video, captured on remote sensor cameras, has gone viral and gained nationwide attention for this beautiful, powerful cat, named El Jefe by Tucson school kids.
But many people are not aware that El Jefe's home is threatened by a massive open pit copper mine proposal. The Rosemont Mine would blast a mile-wide hole in the ground thousands of feet deep and bury thousands of acres of public land under 800-foot-high piles of toxic mine waste, right in the middle of El Jefe's home territory.
Soon, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will issue its formal biological opinion of the impacts of the mine on endangered species, including jaguars.
Tell the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that they must act to protect America's only known wild jaguar.
Dear Director Ashe,
I'm writing to urge you to protect El Jefe, America's only known wild jaguar. A stunning new video shows him in his natural habitat in the mountains of southern Arizona. Seeing this magnificent animal in the wild is thrilling and inspiring. We need to do everything we can to protect him and his home, and save space for other jaguars that will come here in the future.
[Your comment will be added here] I'm alarmed that El Jefe's home is targeted by a massive open pit copper mine proposal. The Rosemont Mine would blast a hole in the ground a mile wide and thousands of feet deep and bury thousands of acres of public land with toxic mine waste, right in the heart of El Jefe's home territory. Not only is this prime jaguar habitat, but it lies at the intersection of three major wildlife corridors that are essential to jaguar recovery in this country. We cannot let a foreign mining company destroy this precious piece of America's natural heritage.
Please use the power vested in you to protect our beautiful wildlife from this imminent disaster. Jaguars belong in the American Southwest, and they will return if we protect the places they live and give them a chance to thrive. There are copper mines all over the Southwest, but only one jaguar. I stand with El Jefe, and I hope you will too.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
