In Porto Jofre, located in the Pantanal wetlands of southwest Brazil, a mother jaguar snagged an anaconda for her evening meal. However, her plans were interrupted when her own cub decided to contest her ownership of the tasty prey.
Witnesses observed the mother and cub engaged in a fierce tug of war on the riverbank. The adult jaguar had successfully hunted the anaconda and enlisted her cub’s assistance in transporting it across the river. Yet, unexpectedly, the five-month-old cub confronted its mother upon reaching the shore, as recounted by the photographer who documented the intense struggle.
My anaconda: A mother jaguar and her cub were seen battling over an anaconda in Porto Jofre, located in Pantanal, Brazil.
You’ve caught us: The jaguars seem to be glancing sheepishly straight at the camera while nibbling on the lengthy snake.
Photographer Arjan Jongeneel from the Netherlands recounts, ‘After a few hours of searching for jaguars near Porto Jofre, we stumbled upon a female jaguar and her five-month-old cub.
‘We trailed these captivating felines for a while as they strolled along the riverbanks in search of prey.
‘Soon, the mother and cub vanished into the bushes, and moments later, we heard rustling from the dry leaves on the ground.
‘We waited patiently, and before long, the mother emerged at the river’s edge, gracefully descended from the two-meter-high riverbank into the water. The cub followed suit and also entered the river.’
Dinner is served! Observers witnessed the duo swimming across the lake, each holding a 16ft anaconda in their mouths.
The start of their journey: They seemed to be getting along well while hauling the lengthy yellow anaconda out of the river together.
Mine! Yet, the mother and cub swiftly became entangled in a tug of war, each tugging at the lifeless snake.
Pass it over! Photographer Arjan Jongeneel recounts how the mother jaguar eventually relinquished the snake, allowing the cub to make off with it.
‘Both jaguars made their way across the river. During the journey, we observed the mother carrying something in her jaws.
Upon closer inspection, we identified it as a sizable yellow anaconda, measuring approximately five meters (16ft) in length. Swimming up to her mother, the cub seized the anaconda in its own jaws.
Mr. Jongeneel described how the duo reached the opposite shore of the river, with both jaguars firmly gripping the anaconda and refusing to release it.
‘A fierce struggle ensued, with both mother and cub steadfastly holding onto the yellow anaconda, neither willing to yield. Eventually, the mother relented, allowing the cub to proudly and swiftly abscond with its prize.
