Two jaguar sightings were just confirmed in Southern Arizona. A 200-pound, magnificent male with striking brownish-yellow fur and dark rosettes was photographed. Now there's proof: jaguars are back in the U.S. and they need our help to protect them and the habitat they need to recover and thrive.

These native big cats were systematically hunted close to extinction by the U.S. government, and now are largely contained south of the border in Mexico. The last known American jaguar, Macho B, died after being illegally trapped and captured in 2009.

With these recent sightings it's even more urgent for the Interior Department to fully protect the American jaguar and the places it lives so future generations will once again have jaguars roaming the wild places of America.

Tell the Interior Department to move quickly to act on its 2010 pledge to grant the jaguar protected habitat in the U.S. and develop a recovery plan to save these incredible cats.

Dear [Decision Maker],

I am writing to express my support for the Center for Biological Diversity's proposal to establish more than 50 million acres of critical habitat for the endangered American jaguar.

[Your comments will be added here]

After the jaguar was listed as endangered in 1997, the Center three times sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to obtain a recovery plan and critical habitat designation. Finally, in early 2010, the Service announced it would grant the jaguar protected habitat in the United States as well as develop a recovery plan, however nearly two years have passed and the Service has yet to follow through on that announcement.

Given the recent confirmed sighting of a large, 200-pound male jaguar in southern Arizona, there is no time to waste in protecting jaguars in the United States. Please take immediate action to implement the Center for Biological Diversity's proposed designation of more than 50 million acres of jaguar critical habitat in the Southwest, and ban any future hunting, trapping or poisoning of jaguars.


Sincerely,
[Your name here]