Brazil

Jaguar shot 30 times rescued from Amazon

Police and wildlife teams pulled the wounded predator from the Negro River after he was found struggling to stay afloat, his body riddled with pellets from a shooting

Jfeed Staff

OCT 7, 2026 12:18

2 min read

Shot 30 Times and Left to Drown: Jaguar Rescue in the Amazon

Mark us as a preferred source Follow us on

A dramatic rescue unfolded on the Negro River in the Brazilian Amazon after a wounded jaguar was spotted struggling to keep his head above water. Police and wildlife protection teams who arrived at the scene quickly realized the animal was in critical condition and launched a complex operation to pull him from the river.

The jaguar was found near Manaus after a local resident reported to authorities that an animal appeared to be fighting to stay afloat. According to Brazilian reports, he had been in the water for hours and was nearly completely exhausted. By the time environmental police reached him, he was barely able to hold himself above the surface.

Officers improvised a flotation device and positioned it near the jaguar, allowing him to grip it while the boat slowly towed him toward shore. Footage from the rescue shows the animal weak and struggling to swim as the rescue team worked carefully to bring him to safety.

Medical examinations revealed just how severe his condition was. The young male, weighing approximately 58 kilograms, had more than 30 pellets lodged in his body from gunfire, concentrated mainly around the face, head and neck. He also had broken teeth and additional injuries.

The jaguar was transferred to veterinary care at a clinic in Manaus, where he underwent medical treatment and was placed under observation. Authorities have opened an investigation to determine who shot him, as jaguars are a protected species in Brazil.