Use of Instant Messaging Apps for Monitoring Jaguar Mortality in Nayarit, Mexico

Abstract

Derived from socio-environmental monitoring in Sierra de Vallejo, Nayarit, WhatsApp groups composed of hunters and ranchers were identified. In these spaces, deaths of animals were reported, including jaguars, in retaliation for preying on livestock or hunting events. Based on the above, we were interested in using instant messaging to estimate jaguar mortality in the Sierra de Vallejo. Therefore, our objectives were: 1) to quantify the number of mortality incidents reported in the groups, 2) to evaluate the reliability of those reports through field verification, and 3) to analyze the narratives that explain the underlying causes of said mortality. We established a direct communication channel through key actors to collect information on jaguar deaths. A content analysis was conducted on the shared messages, focusing on the frequency and circumstances of the losses. Between 2018 and 2024, we obtained the report of 10 dead jaguars: seven poisoned, two hunted, and one run over. We verified the veracity of nine reports. We conclude that instant messaging can be a reliable method to estimate the deaths of big cats if it is associated with solid social work.