Wild Felid Attacks on Humans in South and Central America: A 2014–2025 Case Series in French Guiana and Literature Review

)-are increasingly reported, raising public concern. However, attacks on humans remain poorly documented, and their frequency is likely overestimated. This study assessed the scale of wild felid attacks in French Guiana and South America through a case series and literature review. We conducted a retrospective observational study of all wild felid attacks managed in healthcare facilities in French Guiana between January 2014 and December 2025. Cases were identified through hospital emergency departments, the regional rabies treatment center, and remote clinics. Medical records were reviewed for sociodemographic data, circumstances, clinical outcomes, and management. A systematic literature review (ie, PubMed, ScienceDirect, SciELO, and LILACS) identified documented attacks involving South American wild felids from 1990 to 2025. Reports involving captive animals or lacking methodologic detail were excluded. Four attacks were recorded in French Guiana, with no fatalities, although 1 case led to significant sequelae. The literature review identified 11 events, mainly attributed to jaguars and occasionally pumas. Attacks were rare and often linked to contextual factors such as forest proximity, domestic animals, or impaired animal condition. Severe injuries were reported, including 3 fatal cases. Wild felid attacks on humans remain exceptionally rare in South America and are usually associated with identifiable environmental or anthropogenic factors rather than inherent aggressiveness. Habitat preservation and reduced human-wildlife overlap are key preventive strategies.

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Publication Details

Journal
Wilderness and Environmental Medicine
Published
2026-09-03
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/10806032261481102
Primary Topic
Rabies epidemiology and control
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Wild Felid Attacks on Humans in South and Central America: A 2014–2025 Case Series in French Guiana and Literature Review

Stéphanie Barthe, Brigitte Roman-Laverdure, Anissa Desmoulin, Rémi Mutricy et al.
Wilderness and Environmental Medicine
Rabies epidemiology and control
article

Wild Felid Attacks on Humans in South and Central America: A 2014–2025 Case Series in French Guiana and Literature Review

Stéphanie Barthe, Brigitte Roman-Laverdure, Anissa Desmoulin, Rémi Mutricy, Corentin Knoploch, Alexis Frémery, Loïc Epelboin, Elias Zaoui
article en

Abstract

)-are increasingly reported, raising public concern. However, attacks on humans remain poorly documented, and their frequency is likely overestimated. This study assessed the scale of wild felid attacks in French Guiana and South America through a case series and literature review. We conducted a retrospective observational study of all wild felid attacks managed in healthcare facilities in French Guiana between January 2014 and December 2025. Cases were identified through hospital emergency departments, the regional rabies treatment center, and remote clinics. Medical records were reviewed for sociodemographic data, circumstances, clinical outcomes, and management. A systematic literature review (ie, PubMed, ScienceDirect, SciELO, and LILACS) identified documented attacks involving South American wild felids from 1990 to 2025. Reports involving captive animals or lacking methodologic detail were excluded. Four attacks were recorded in French Guiana, with no fatalities, although 1 case led to significant sequelae. The literature review identified 11 events, mainly attributed to jaguars and occasionally pumas. Attacks were rare and often linked to contextual factors such as forest proximity, domestic animals, or impaired animal condition. Severe injuries were reported, including 3 fatal cases. Wild felid attacks on humans remain exceptionally rare in South America and are usually associated with identifiable environmental or anthropogenic factors rather than inherent aggressiveness. Habitat preservation and reduced human-wildlife overlap are key preventive strategies.

Wilderness and Environmental Medicine
University of French Guiana (GF), Institute for Biodiversity (DE), Clinical Investigation Center Plurithematic Tours (FR), Centre d’Investigation Clinique Innovation Technologique de Nancy (FR), Centre Hospitalier Andrée Rosemon (GF), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège (BE), Fondation Pour la Recherche Sur la Biodiversité (FR)
Life in Land
Openalex Percentile: Top 12%
Rabies epidemiology and control
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