That's not necessarily true, but probably likely. The DNR tracked a cougar from one of the western states once and found he traveled a significant distance, hundreds of miles east. Other cats have been found far out of their normal range. It happens.
But in this case it would mean walking over 1000 miles into a part of the world where they have never existed in history. Seems a bit far fetched.
And yet it happens...
Can you provide another case of a BLACK jaguar walking from southern Mexico to the middle of the US? I sure have never heard of it happening.
Do you think it matters that the jaguar is black? Like the cat was thinking, "Hey, I bet no one ever saw a BLACK jaguar up in Tennessee so I think I'll just toddle on up and give those rednecks a good surprise."
The black color is nothing more than a genetic variant, just like in leopards, servals, and bobcats.
that would be my guess
He heard that black hides were more valuable in North America, think he'd qualify for CAB?
Yes, I understand how the black color works. Its a genetic variation that is primarily found in the jungles of central America. A few have been seen in western Mexico, but its extremely rare. The odds of such a rare animal traveling to TN unnoticed, and then posing in an open field in the broad daylight, are zero. I know you only said it was "possible", and theoretically it may be. But it would be more likely to see a panda bear in TN than a wild black leopard.
I agree completely... but there have been panda bears in zoos and I doubt a wild African leopard would be turned loose by anyone in TN... and one would never be expected to swim over on its own.
Put a set of hounds on that cat and kill it if it's real.
