The numbers of the beast: Valuation of jaguar (Panthera onca) tourism and cattle depredation in the Brazilian Pantanal

Jaguar ecotourism generates approximately US$6.8 million annually in the Brazilian Pantanal, far outweighing the estimated US$121,500 in cattle depredation losses. This study quantifies the economic value of jaguar tourism and contrasts it with livestock damage costs, highlighting a significant financial incentive for conserving jaguars on private ranches. Researchers analyzed land-use revenue from ecotourism and cattle predation data to demonstrate how voluntary tourist donations could compensate ranchers for depredation, fostering coexistence between traditional livelihoods and wildlife conservation. The findings underscore the potential of tourism as a powerful tool for promoting jaguar conservation while mitigating rural-urban conflicts.

Tortato, F. R., Izzo, T. J., Hoogesteijn, R., & Peres, C. A. (2017). The numbers of the beast: Valuation of jaguar (Panthera onca) tourism and cattle depredation in the Brazilian Pantanal. Global Ecology and Conservation, 11, 106–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2017.05.003