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Pedro
Bello came to us when a man showed up at the Butterfly Farm trying
to sell a young Jaguar. We sent him away. He came back two weeks later saying that he couldn't sell the Jaguar and couldn't afford to feed the animal. We again turned him away because we did not know how to care for the big cat. Another week passed, and he came by again, this time dropping a wooden box into her port. He said, "I think the animal is dying. I'm going to leave him here." We opened the box to find the Jaguar lying in his own dirt; he was skin and bones. Worms (larva) filled the wounds the animal had suffered while trying to escape. He was unable to get up. Jaguars are in danger of extinction; We would not allow him to die if she could help it. There was no place for him to go, so the Peruvian government left him in our custody. Pedro can hunt and fish, but, unfortunately, he cannot be released because, as with all animals raised by people, he wouldn't survive. The most important instinct for a wild animal is fear of humans. Captive animals lose that fear, putting them in danger. Pedro Bello would approach people, which would cause fear. He would be caught and killed. He is now about three years old, almost fully grown, and he is gentle as long as people are outside of his cage. He licks Gudrun's fingers during feed times. But because of his strength, just by playing, he could kill them. |
Amazon Animal Orphanage
Pilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm
www.AmazonAnimalOrphanage.org
pilpintuwasi@hotmail.com
063-23-2665
Padre Cocha
Iquitos, Peru