Marine Turtle Predated by Jaguar
Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica. At 05:50 the team saw a group of around 30 black vultures (Coragyps atratus) approximately half a mile ahead, lined up on the beach near the high tide line. As they approached a recent green turtle (Chelonia mydas) track was observed in the sand, without an accompanying return track.
The team approached the sand bank near the vegetation where fresh kills are most commonly found. Due to the lack of common indications, such as smell and feeding vultures, the team were not immediately directed to the turtle’s location. At a distance of approximately 20 metres a green turtle was sited in her body pit, facing west and resting on her plastron. The body pit was bordering the vegetation.
As the team approached, they saw that a jaguar (Panthera onca) was still feeding at the neck. The jaguar was crouching with its two front paws either side of the turtles head, feeding at the neck, its body in line with the carcass. As the jaguar became aware of the human presence it lifted its head to look directly at the survey team before fleeing into the vegetation less than a metre away.
The team approached the site to record data on the predated turtle. The point of attack was determined to be at the neck, with no other wounds present. A large section of flesh had been removed from the neck, with the spinal column visible and the vertebra clearly broken.
The curved carapace length (CCL) of the turtle was 109.7 cm. The team took notes of the greater comparative length of the jaguar, which they approximated a 150 cm from nose to the base of the tail. The wild cat was reported as stocky, well nourished and in good physical condition, with particular note made as to the vibrancy of its spotting.
The team were unable to determine whether the turtle was successful in laying prior to attack. There was a significant body pit and lots of loose sand, but no visible egg chamber. Her front right flipper was completely hidden by the body; she was positioned slightly out of the nesting area, towards the vegetation. The team noted a great number of jaguar prints, following the track up from the high tide line to the nesting site. The prints indicated the predator had circled the nesting turtle prior to engaging. Similar sized jaguar tracks were noted as moving between the beach and vegetation at a minimum of three separate points, within two meters of the dead turtle.
The team approached the sand bank near the vegetation where fresh kills are most commonly found. Due to the lack of common indications, such as smell and feeding vultures, the team were not immediately directed to the turtle’s location. At a distance of approximately 20 metres a green turtle was sited in her body pit, facing west and resting on her plastron. The body pit was bordering the vegetation.
As the team approached, they saw that a jaguar (Panthera onca) was still feeding at the neck. The jaguar was crouching with its two front paws either side of the turtles head, feeding at the neck, its body in line with the carcass. As the jaguar became aware of the human presence it lifted its head to look directly at the survey team before fleeing into the vegetation less than a metre away.
The team approached the site to record data on the predated turtle. The point of attack was determined to be at the neck, with no other wounds present. A large section of flesh had been removed from the neck, with the spinal column visible and the vertebra clearly broken.
The curved carapace length (CCL) of the turtle was 109.7 cm. The team took notes of the greater comparative length of the jaguar, which they approximated a 150 cm from nose to the base of the tail. The wild cat was reported as stocky, well nourished and in good physical condition, with particular note made as to the vibrancy of its spotting.
The team were unable to determine whether the turtle was successful in laying prior to attack. There was a significant body pit and lots of loose sand, but no visible egg chamber. Her front right flipper was completely hidden by the body; she was positioned slightly out of the nesting area, towards the vegetation. The team noted a great number of jaguar prints, following the track up from the high tide line to the nesting site. The prints indicated the predator had circled the nesting turtle prior to engaging. Similar sized jaguar tracks were noted as moving between the beach and vegetation at a minimum of three separate points, within two meters of the dead turtle.
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