Earlier this month, Vanderlei Rabi and a group of friends set out for a day of fishing on the rivers of Brazil’s Pantanal wetlands. They expected a calm trip — but on their way back to shore, they made a discovery they’ll never forget.
Glancing ahead, Rabi spotted something moving in the water. At first, he assumed it was a capybara.
“I asked the one steering the boat to take us closer to see,” Rabi told The Dodo. “When we got there, we realized it wasn’t a capybara.”
It was a jaguar cub, paddling weakly and clearly struggling to stay afloat.
Not far away, Rabi could see a mother jaguar climbing out of the water with two other cubs. It seemed this little one had fallen behind during the family’s crossing and was too exhausted to keep up.
Without hesitation, the fishermen sprang into action. Grabbing one of their nets, they carefully scooped the tired cub from the river, giving him the boost he needed to reach dry land.
Once on shore, the cub clung tightly to the net, catching his breath. The fishermen quickly backed away so as not to interfere — or risk scaring off the mother, who they knew must be nearby.
For Rabi, the moment was unforgettable. “To have been able to help was a sensational feeling,” he said.
Wildlife experts later praised the men’s actions. Biologist Henrique Abrahão Charles explained that although jaguar cubs are capable swimmers, this one had clearly been in distress — and the fishermen’s intervention likely saved his life.
Charles is confident that a reunion soon followed. “The cub calls the mother — he knows. The mother does not abandon the cub,” he told G1 Globo News. “They communicate. The jaguar has a very powerful sense of smell, good hearing and excellent vision. There are methods of vocalization for the cub. She will look for him, he will call for her.”
Thanks to a few fishermen with quick thinking and kind hearts, one little jaguar was given the chance to call out for his mom — and find his way safely back to her side.
