Bon Voyage, Chincha!

Dartmoor Zoo is saying their final farewells to Chincha, a beloved Jaguar (Panthera onca) that’s embarking on a journey to Zoo d'Amnéville in France, to become a part of an international breeding program. 

Originally from Parc des Félins, Chincha joined the Dartmoor Zoo family on 21 April 2015, and now exactly 11 years later, he’s making the return journey to his birthplace France, to become part of an international breeding program with Zoo d’Amnéville.

Dartmoor Zoological Society CEO, Dr David Gibson commented: “Whilst it is sad to see the lovely Chincha leaving our collection, it is fantastic to know that he will be given the chance to breed and therefore preserve his highly valuable genetics within the global population of zoo held Jaguars. Zoo d’Amnéville has a wealth of experience with this species and we know he will be exceptionally well cared for.”

With an estimated 173,000 Jaguars remaining in the wild, Jaguars are listed as ‘Near Threatened’ on the IUCN red list, with their main threat in the wild being habitat loss due to deforestation. Their habitats range from forests, wetlands, savannahs and grasslands throughout Central and South America, with roughly 90% of the population residing in the Amazon and Pantanal.

The name ‘jaguar’ originates from the indigenous word ‘yaguar’ meaning: ‘he who kills with one leap’, and with their incredible stalking abilities and immense bite force capable of crushing turtle shells, it’s clear to see why. With large, round heads and a combination of rosettes and spots across their coats, Jaguars are the largest cat found in the Americas.

As a much-beloved resident of Dartmoor Zoo, saying goodbye has been particularly difficult for staff and guests alike who have formed incredible bonds with Chincha over his time here. However, everyone is also incredibly excited for Chincha’s next chapter and to see him make a vital conservation impact by becoming a dad!

Dartmoor Zoological Society Head Keeper, Jenna Crawford commented: “We’re so delighted to have provided a loving home for Chincha these past 11 years. We have absolutely no doubt that he is going to be an exceptional member of the collection at Zoo d’Amnéville, and whilst we will of course miss him, there is no greater reward as a keeper than seeing the collaborative efforts of multiple zoological institutions pay off. Chincha is beginning his journey into the vital conservation and breeding program for his species, and thanks to the teams here at Dartmoor and Zoo d’Amnéville, the safety net for jaguars will continue to thrive.

In a fitting farewell, Chincha will leave us exactly 11 years to the day that he arrived from France! Paws crossed his French isn’t too rusty!”

SafetyLiftinGear, a team, backed by over 40 years of industry experience, who donated their time and essential high-quality lifting, rigging, jacking, and height safety equipment to make this move happen.

To find out more about Dartmoor Zoo visit www.dartmoorzoo.org.uk.