Filly the Jaguar Safely Arrives at Milwaukee County Zoo

The Milwaukee County Zoo has announced the arrival of Filly, a jaguar transferred from the Belize Zoo. Filly arrived on January 23 after travelling from Belize via Miami and ground transport to Milwaukee.

Rescued under the Human Jaguar Conflict Program, Filly was brought to the Belize Zoo in 2019 after being identified as a conflict jaguar preying on livestock due to age and health-related difficulties. The Belize Zoo, in collaboration with the Belize Forest Department, has been rescuing such jaguars since 2003.

Milwaukee County Zoo was chosen for Filly’s new home due to its long-standing conservation partnership with the Belize Zoo, which dates back to the 1980s. The zoo’s male jaguar, Frankie, is the son of another conflict jaguar, Pat, who was also transferred from Belize. The process to bring Filly to Milwaukee took 4.5 years of careful preparation.

This partnership supports conservation efforts in Belize through programs like the Pat Gives Back initiative, which focuses on conservation, research, and community support.

“Bringing Filly to Milwaukee is an exciting step in our continued support for the conservation work of the Belize Zoo,” said Amos Morris, Executive Director of the Milwaukee County Zoo. “We’re also focused on the welfare of our male jaguar, Frankie.”

Filly, deemed non-releasable, will contribute to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Jaguar Species Survival Plan, helping to enhance the genetic diversity of jaguars in North America. After a quarantine period, Filly will be introduced to her new habitat and visitors at the zoo.