> In spite of the recent incident, Durán says that since 2018 he’s been able to see the benefits of jaguar conservation on his ranch firsthand. He’s now one of the most active cat defenders. In December 2023, he became a park ranger and helped three former hunters do the same. This transformation is an example of how improving data collection and carrying out interventions based on evidence in the communities benefit both humans and cats.

I guess the point is that ranchers don't blindly hate big cats. They hate suffering large economic losses due to big cats. Once they aren't suffering the losses, they're happy to have the cats around.

If the goal is to maximize ranching, I think you're right. But if the goal is to maximize the economic opportunities in Costa Rica it probably is not the best decision. When I hired a tour guide there he pointed out that Costa Rica could easily install dams to create vast fresh water reservoirs and generate some power as well. But because the country doesn't do this they have ecosystems people come to visit their from around the world. So by choosing not to maximize for one thing they retain another at little to no cost. After all, free flowing rivers don't cost much to maintain.

The tourism industry is important to them. So perhaps by finding a way to co-exist with big cats, it's a net positive to the ranchers because they probably don't want Costa Rica to be a nation with only 1 industry. If they can produce enough beef (or whatever animal they want to raise) to satisfy domestic and export desires then there probably is not much of a need to expand the industry at all costs.

Yes, the title is completely misleading.

What the article seems to suggest is what economists have always known. People react to incentives (and so do animals). Ranchers do not have blind hate for cats but rather care more about their cattle than the cats. By making few changes that are profitable for them cats can co-exist. But that does not make them allies.

Cats are not helping the ranchers in any ways.

Title should be: Electric fences and careful herd management allow coexistence of ranchers and big cats.

Co-existance via intermingling use of hardier water buffalos' with horn within the cow pasture is the key.

Puma is feasible, got lucky and saw a wild one there myself! (Corcovado)

Spotting wild jaguars in Costa Rica is insanely unlikely though from what the park rangers told us, they are too evasive.

Also, don't miss out on the Cerro Cirripo (highest mountain) if you're there and don't hate hiking. It is an absolutely amazing way to spend 2-3 days (but we needed permit/reservation in advance).

Both jaguars (also called Yaguaretés in Argentina's north) and pumas are gorgeous animals, I'll be very sad if/when they go extinct. It'll be a huge shame.