A Jaguar in Brazil Makes the Longest Recorded Swim by the Species, Traversing at Least 0.79 Miles Through Water

[Judi Lynn]

Last edited Mon Sep 29, 2025, 11:22 AM - Edit history (1)

A jaguar, not the one documented in the new study, swims in the Pantanal in Brazil. Sergio Pitamitz / VWPics / Universal Images Group via Getty Images

A camera trap documented an adult jaguar that seems to have made a record-breaking swim—paddling at least 0.79 miles to reach an island in the reservoir area of the Serra da Mesa hydroelectric dam in Brazil.

The jaguar was first spotted on the mainland in 2020. Four years later, cameras caught the same animal—identified by the patterns on its coat—on a forested island more than a mile away.

Researchers believe the wild cat made this trip one of two ways: Either the jaguar swam 0.66 miles, made a pit stop on an islet, and then swam another 0.79 miles, or it might have swam the total 1.45 miles nonstop.

“We are being conservative by assuming that this cat did use a small island on the way as a stepping stone,” says Leandro Silveira, a biologist at the Jaguar Conservation Fund in Brazil, to Michael Le Page at New Scientist. “It could in fact have swum the 2.3-kilometer [1.45-mile] straight line.”

More:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-jaguar-in-brazil-makes-the-longest-recorded-swim-by-the-species-traversing-at-least-079-miles-through-water-180987384/




More jaguars in Brazil's Pantanal

The narrator of this very short film overlooked Brazil, where a lot of jaguars live. Shame on him!

[EYESORE 9001]

1. K & R

for the amazing photos of a true feline athlete.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Had no idea these big cats spend so much time in the water! True athletes, for certain!

[Frasier Balzov]

3. Eating a giant snake like spaghetti.

[3Hotdogs]

6. Most likely, an Anaconda.

[malaise]

4. May have happened before

But cameras today are visual proof - a beautiful species

[JoseBalow]

5. It's an assumption. It wasn't witnessed actually making the swim

Isn't it possible that the cat floated part or all of the distance while clinging to a log or some other floating object?

... seems to have made a record-breaking swim...

Researchers believe...

... or it might have swam...

We are being conservative by assuming...

... not yet been peer-reviewed...

Until now, the farthest a jaguar has been recorded to swim was roughly a mere 650 feet, so this work pushes the record to six times longer.

... probably not unusual.

[BobTheSubgenius]

7. You would NEVER catch me swimming in water that could be hiding alligators, crocodiles or caymans, to say nothing

about various species of snakes. Hats off to Phelps the Jaguar!