How a dead jaguar changed Sergio Avila's life
>> Moments of Disruption is part of our series, The Disruptors.
Since he was a child, growing up in the Chihuahuan desert in central Mexico, Sergio Avila dreamed of working with big cats
As a PhD student in the Sierra Madre mountains, Avila was finally able to get up close with spotted jaguars; he and his team caught and snared a huge male jaguar for research purposes.
"Just being in front of him he was pushing and pushing to try to get us. He was roaring and hitting the ground," says Avila. The team acted quickly to mobilise the cat.
"His claws were huge ... their fur is very soft ... they are very clean ... but at the same time you can see in them the scars of life," says Avila.
The tranquilized jaguar was collared and left under a tree sleeping.
"We thought he was okay," says Avila.
The next day they found the jaguar dead.
"Seeing this dead jaguar changed my life," says Avila.
"The jaguar didn't make it because we never considered what the jaguar wanted," he adds.
Avila now uses this story to train citizen scientists in how to study jaguars and not ever touch one.
"I honour that jaguar for the lessons he taught us," says Avila.
Listen to the full story near the top of this web post.
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This segment was produced by The Current's Karin Marley.