Guyana has both a national bird and a national “animal.” While both birds and mammals are part of the animal kingdom, the Canje Pheasant is distinguished as Guyana’s National Bird, while the Jaguar is overall Guyana’s national animal, suggesting it wields greater prominence than the Canje Pheasant.
It is not clear why the jaguar was nominated Guyana’s national animal, but it might have something to do with its strength and courage. Nevertheless, the jaguar is a vicious predator which bites through the head of its prey. The jaguar is bold and fearless, and an encounter with one can easily turn deadly.
Nevertheless, a brave Guyanese citizen, Melly Allicock, met one on the forest trails in Guyana’s interior in January 2023 and didn’t run away in fear. Instead, she took out her phone and started videoing. This citizen is certainly bolder than the jaguar itself. And she gives us the luxury of watching a jaguar roar up close and personal. Looking at the video, you can get a feel of the jaguar’s enormous strength and unshakeable courage.
The jaguar is a cat species. It belongs to the genus Panthera, and it is native to the Americas. The jaguar is a mammal which can grow to more than 6 feet and weight up to 350 pounds making it the largest cat species in the Americas and the third largest in the world.
