BBC Two are showing a new series of “Big Cats About the House”. This week (and next) features the early life of Maya, a black jaguar (Panthera onca) whose mother neglected her. In “her own words”
My name is Maya, I am a little black Jaguar and I live at The Big Cat Sanctuary with my carer Giles Clark who heads the facility in Kent. He welcomed me into his family, giving me constant care – 3 hourly bottle feeds, bottom wiping as well as love and attention around the clock – 24 hours a day! This was a huge comfort having begun life with more challenges and adversity than is ideal. Safe to say, I think it is quite possibly a miracle I am still here!!
I was born at Wingham Wildlife Park on 11th July and unfortunately my mother was unable to feed and tend to my needs. It was this issue that led to the decision, combined with symptoms of severe dehydration and weakness, that I should be hand reared.
Hand rearing was the last option as it means she will be habituated to humans and could not be released into the wild. Panthers are facing grave problems in South America from hunting and habitat loss. The aim is for her to be an ambassador for her species and to promote the conservation work of the Sanctuary. Her first TV appearance was on the BBC Breakfast show when she was 10 weeks old.
Early on, Maya’s health caused concern and she had to be examined by a world center of vetenary excellence. It meant Giles had to leave home with her at 4 a.m., drive for four hours, worry all day as she went through the various examinations and then drive another four hours home. She was the first panther to have an MRI scan!
Any cat owner will recognise this behavior.
Worries about her eyesight and balance remained unresolved at the end of this week’s episode.
SPOILER ALERT
Maya’s story continues below but includes information that has not yet been broadcast.
Maya is now a big(ger) girl and has some new toys at the Wildlife center.
She is exploring her environment and the changes like the recent cold weather bring.
Giles has a great affinity for big cats. The center has two of Maya’s African relatives, leopards (Panthera pardus). He has started some habituation so that they can be shown to the public and increase awareness of their plight — they are among the most threatened. The center also has another female black panther. She has retired from a captive breeding program and was not hand reared. He will go nowhere near her! Jaguars have the strongest jaws of all the big cats due to their short “faces”. They have been seen killing prey by crushing their skulls with a bite.
Giles’ aim is to increase the amount the center is able to give for conservation work in S. America and Africa from thousands to tens of thousands. The series also follows his visits to these locations to show what work is being done to preserve these wonderful animals and the challenges they face,