Black Jaguar Cub Loves To Play With Caretaker

This little baby might be only a month and half, and still very clumsy, but he sure loves to practice his predator skills on the people who take care of him! Watch out for the cuteness monster!

Black jaguars, despite some belief, aren’t actually black. Their fur appears black because of the excess of a pigment called melanin, although is you look closely (in pictures, not in person!) you will be able to notice the spots.

These cats may appear big and intimidating, but in essence they are not the natural born killers we all are taught to believe. The internet is swarmed with videos of big cats interacting and playing with humans, as if they were family.

The black jaguar was considered a separate species by indigenous peoples. English naturalist W. H. Hudson wrote:

“... in the hot region the Indians recognise three strongly marked varieties, which they regard as distinct species – the one described; the smaller jaguar, less aquatic in his habits and marked with spots, not rings; and, thirdly, the black variety. They scout the notion that their terrible "black tiger" is a mere melanic variation, like the black leopard of the Old World and the wild black rabbit. They regard it as wholly distinct, and affirm that it is larger and much more dangerous than the spotted jaguar; that they recognize it by its cry; that it belongs to the terra firma rather than to the water-side; finally, that black pairs with black, and that the cubs are invariably black."