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PLANET ARIZONA: 9 things to know about jaguars in Arizona

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Posted at 4:04 PM, Feb 16, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-17 14:01:15-05

PHOENIX — Jaguars are beautiful and powerful cats. Though extremely rare today, they've been found in Arizona.

In February 2016, the Center for Biological Diversity released a video of what's believed to be the only known wild jaguar in the United States.

"El Jefe," as the jaguar was named, has been living in a mountain range south of Tucson for at least three years. He was believed to be 7 years old in 2016, according to the CBD. He's only one of four or five cats spotted in the U.S. in the last 20 years.

Watch the video above to learn where jaguars have lived in Arizona!