Award-winning photography of natural history, landscape, antiquity and travel throughout the world. All images © Martin Grace
CATEGORY WINNER IN BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2019

Pantanal Jaguars

My first encounter with this male Jaguar (Panthera onca) known as Merlin (foreground) and a female known as Pantaneira (behind) on a sandy area above the river, Northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil: Image 1 of a sequence of 29

Merlin stands up and walks across directly in front of Pantaneira, whose face is visible between his legs. Image 2 of 29; elapsed time 1 minute

After 26 minutes with no activity, Merlin approaches Pantaneira: snarling and sparring are the result. Image 3 of 29; elapsed time 27mins

An edited and interpolated crop of the previous image. Image 3B of 29

Merlin trudges off, looking rather fed up. Image 5 of 29; elapsed time 28mins

Merlin lies down on the riverbank, but still looking towards Pantaneira. Image 6 of 29; elapsed time 28mins

Merlin still keeps his eye on the tourist boats too. Image 7 of 29; elapsed time 29mins

Seven minutes later Merlin approaches Pantaneira with due caution. Image 8 of 29; elapsed time 36mins

Pantaneira does not immediately lash out at him, so perhaps Merlin's luck is in! Image 9 of 29; elapsed time 36mins

But Pantaneira does not seem very receptive either, so Merlin still needs to tread very carefully. Image 10 of 29; elapsed time 36mins

... and he keeps going. Image 11 of 29; elapsed time 36mins

... and sits down a sensible distance away. Image 12 of 29; elapsed time 36mins

... but where he can lie down and still keep an eye on the tourist boats. Image 13 of 29; elapsed time 41mins

... and, more importantly, on Pantaneira too, especially when something attracts his attention. Image 14 of 29; elapsed time 45mins

Merlin moves to lie relatively close to, and behind, Pantaneira (focus is on Pantaneira). Image 15 of 29; elapsed time 54mins

After a few minutes Pantaneira moves away and goes to lie by the river exactly where Merlin was lying before. Image 16 of 29; elapsed time 1h 02mins

Pantaneira remains there for fifty minutes, resting, scratching... Image 17 of 29; elapsed time 1h 53mins

... before she yawns luxuriantly. Image 18 of 29; elapsed time 1h 54mins

Then Pantaneira stretches and moves down to the water to drink. Image 19 of 29; elapsed time 1h 54mins

Panataneira drinks from the river. Image 20 of 29; elapsed time 1h 54 mins

Merlin comes to meet Pantaneira as she leaves the water's edge. Note how huge he is compared with her. Image 21 of 29; elapsed time 1h 54mins

Pantaneira leads Merlin away. Image 22 of 29; elapsed time 1h 54mins

Pantaneira sits on the ground. Image 23 of 29; elapsed time 1h 55mins

Merlin is still somewhat distracted by the five tourist boats (containing 28 people). Image 24 of 29; elapsed time 1h 55mins

... but he steps over Pantaneira... Image 25 of 29; elapsed time 1h 55mins

... positions himself carefully... Image 26 of 29; elapsed time 1h 55mins

... and mating occurs. It lasts no longer than 10 seconds. Image 27 of 29; elapsed time 1h 55mins

Immediately afterwards Pantaneira rolls vigorously on her back for 20 seconds or so (this happened after every mating I saw) and then both cats rest for 5 minutes. Image 28 of 29; elapsed time 2hrs

After another couple of minutes both make their way off into the bush, Merlin (shown) following Pantaneira. Merlin will stay close to Pantaneira all the time that she is in oestrus; mating is said to occur up to 100 times a day! Image 29 of 29; elapsed time 2h 2mins

An image with intentional motion blur as the male Jaguar (Panthera onca) known as Marley moves rapidly up the riverbank, River Cuiabá, Northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Male Jaguar (Panthera onca) known as Marley emerges from riverbank vegetation, River Cuiabá, Northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Male Jaguar (Panthera onca) known as Marley works his way along the riverbank, River Cuiabá, Northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Male Jaguar (Panthera onca) known as Marley works his way along the top of the riverbank, River Cuiabá, Northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Male Jaguar (Panthera onca) known as Marley conceals himself in the shade at the top of the riverbank, River Cuiabá, Northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Male Jaguar (Panthera onca) known as Marley emerges into dappled sunlight from behind a riverbank tree, River Cuiabá, Northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Male Jaguar (Panthera onca) known as Marley stops to sniff where perhaps another Jaguar has scent-marked by spraying urine, River Cuiabá, Northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Male Jaguar (Panthera onca) known as Marley caught in a shaft of sunlight, River Cuiabá, Northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil

A shaft of sunlight illuminates part of a male Jaguar (Panthera onca) known as Marley, River Cuiabá, Northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Male Jaguar (Panthera onca) known as Marley, River Cuiabá, Northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Male Jaguar (Panthera onca) known as Marley lurking in the undergrowth, River Cuiabá, Northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Male Jaguar (Panthera onca) known as Marley at the top of the riverbank, River Cuiabá, Northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Male Jaguar (Panthera onca) known as Marley deep in the undergrowth, River Cuiabá, Northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Male Jaguar (Panthera onca) known as Marley resting at the top of the riverbank, River Cuiabá, Northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Male Jaguar (Panthera onca) known as Marley, in early morning dappled sunlight and looking directly at the photographer, River Cuiabá, Northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil; Image 1 of 3

Male Jaguar (Panthera onca) known as Marley, in early morning dappled sunlight and looking to our left, River Cuiabá, Northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil; Image 2 of 3

Male Jaguar (Panthera onca) known as Marley, in early morning dappled sunlight and looking to our right, River Cuiabá, Northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil; Image 3 of 3

Male Jaguar (Panthera onca) known as Marley making his way along the bank of River Cuiabá, Northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil

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