Brazilian Jaguar Completes Record-Breaking 1.6 Kilometer Swim
Manaus, Brazil – A jaguar captured on a camera trap in Brazil has stunned wildlife researchers by completing a documented swim of 1.6 kilometers (approximately one mile) across an artificial lake. The remarkable feat, observed in September 2025, represents the longest confirmed swim by a jaguar to date, challenging previous assumptions about the big cat’s dispersal patterns and aquatic capabilities.
The jaguar was filmed on a small island within the lake created by the Serra da Mesa hydroelectric Power Dam. The sighting raises questions about the motivations behind such a lengthy swim, wiht experts suggesting exploration for new territory or potential mates as likely drivers, rather than solely a search for food.
“Nothing suggests the island has more prey, nor do the shorelines. We think he decided to explore a new area,” researchers noted.
Fernando Tortato, a project coordinator for panthera, a big-cat conservation institution, believes long-distance swimming might potentially be more common among jaguars than previously understood. “Most of the jaguar population is located in the Amazon basin,” Tortato explained. “The main rivers there are much larger than 1.6 kilometers-some are even over 10 kilometers wide. Jaguars don’t see a river as a barrier.”
Tortato also suggested the jaguar may have been drawn to the area by the presence of capybaras, a favored prey species frequently found near artificial lakes. “It’s common to see capybaras along these artificial lakes,” he said.
Jaguars are naturally strong swimmers, possessing powerful bodies and limbs adapted for aquatic environments. Their muscular build allows them to remain submerged for extended periods, enabling them to effectively hunt and navigate waterways. This latest observation underscores the jaguar’s remarkable adaptability and its capacity to thrive in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.The image of the swimming jaguar was captured by Gabriel Caputo.
