Belize Zoo Transfers Filly the Jaguar to Milwaukee County Zoo

The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Centre announced the upcoming transfer of Filly, a female jaguar, to the Milwaukee County Zoo (MCZ) in Wisconsin, USA.

The move, scheduled for Wednesday, January 22, reinforces a conservation partnership between the two institutions that dates back to the 1980s.

Filly is the second jaguar to join MCZ from The Belize Zoo, following the successful transfer of Pat the Great Cat in 2008. Like Pat, Filly will contribute to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Jaguar Species Survival Plan (SSP), which focuses on maintaining the genetic diversity and sustainability of jaguars in captivity.

Rescued in 2019 through the zoo’s Human Jaguar Conflict Program, Filly was identified as a “conflict cat” after preying on livestock. Years of care and management led to her assessment as reproductively viable, making her an ideal candidate for the SSP.

MCZ’s specialised jaguar habitat will provide Filly with an environment tailored to her needs while supporting the broader mission of jaguar conservation. The Milwaukee County Zoo has long supported efforts in Belize, collaborating with The Belize Zoo and the Ya’axché Conservation Trust to mitigate human-jaguar conflicts.