High Elevation Occurrences of Jaguars ( <scp> <i>Panthera onca</i> </scp> , Linnaeus 1758) (Mammalia, Felidae) in Northwestern Mexico, With a Record of Collaborative Interactions

The jaguar (<i>Panthera onca</i>) is an adaptable, solitary predator that used to range from Argentina to the southwestern United States. Despite having been extirpated in several areas due to anthropogenic activities, there is a breeding population in the State of Sonora, and resident adults in Arizona, in the United States. Even though the State of Chihuahua is in close proximity and there is a likelihood of dispersal, there are no formal studies for the species in the State. As part of a broader monitoring project, we surveyed two privately owned ranches and one ejido in the northern part of Chihuahua, Mexico, using camera trapping equipment. We obtained five new records of the species as well as one account of a potential collaborative interaction between two males. These records show the use of temperate environments and higher elevations, which contrast with published literature, as this species is commonly associated with tropical and sub-tropical environments below 1200 m. We highlight the importance of the area and the need for it to be taken into consideration when developing models and conservation strategies.