First record of mating involving a melanistic jaguar (Panthera onca) in the wild: novel behavioural insights into colour morphs and captive‐wild comparisons

Many threatened felid species, including the jaguar (Panthera onca), have low reproductive success in captivity. This may be partially attributed to a lack of knowledge on natural history parameters like courtship and mating behaviour in wild animal populations ‐ an essential aspect for fine‐tuning ex situ breeding programs. During a series of basin‐wide biodiversity inventories in the Brazilian Amazon, we captured videographic evidence of a mating event involving a melanistic jaguar. Such videographic evidence of natural jaguar mating behaviour remains rare, with prior behavioural descriptions being derived from artificial settings like zoos and wildlife parks. Our findings provide the first insights into the courtship and mating interactions between different jaguar colour morphs in the wild, and offer critical validation for behavioural data obtained from controlled environments. These insights enhance our understanding of jaguar reproductive biology and contribute valuable context for refining ex situ conservation strategies. More broadly, they highlight the role of natural history research in advancing conservation efforts for elusive species.