American Jaguars Need Your Help to Survive

Dear Secretary Salazar,

Please act now to order the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a recovery plan and designate critical habitat for the endangered jaguar.

In May, the last known American jaguar, Macho B, was unnecessary killed by Arizona's Game and Fish Department. This tragic loss to the species and to all of us demands swift action from you to protect and preserve jaguar habitat for the majestic big cat.

Jaguars are native to the southern United States but were deliberately exterminated -- much as wolves had been before them. But whereas wolves were promptly placed on the endangered species list more than three decades ago, the jaguar was ignored until 1997. Even then, the species was denied a recovery plan and critical habitat, both essential to its long-term survival.

Recovery plans are scientific roadmaps for bringing species back from the brink of extinction; critical habitats are the areas necessary for imperiled animals and plants to recover. Jaguars need both now.

The Center for Biological Diversity, a nonprofit conservation group, recently won a court case striking down the Bush administration's refusal to develop a recovery plan and designate critical habitat. Instead of moving forward with these necessary actions, however, your administration is appealing the ruling and affirming the Bush policy of refusing to recover this magnificent species.

I ask that you order the Fish and Wildlife Service to save and recover the jaguar through immediate compliance with the Endangered Species Act's well-founded requirements for development of recovery plans and designation of critical habitat.