TUCSON — State game officials say they have captured the first wild jaguar in Arizona.
The male jaguar was caught southwest of Tucson but state Game and Fish Department did not specify the exact location. It was fitted with a radio tracking collar and released.
It was captured Wednesday during a research study monitoring habitat for mountain lions and black bears.
Game and Fish officials say jaguars have been photographed sporadically along the Arizona border over the years but none had ever been captured by the agency.
The Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity sued the federal government last year to force the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to adopt a recovery plan for the rare animals and protect their habitat.
