Chevening alumni lead the way with jaguar conservation in Bolivia

The jaguar (Panthera onca) is one of the largest cat species in the world. But in Bolivia, habitat destruction, human-wildlife conflict, and the illegal trade of jaguar products have placed intense pressure on the species’ survival.

Indigenous communities in the Chiquitano Dry Forest region live close to jaguar habitats, but many see the animal as a threat to their safety and livestock, associating it with danger and loss. These perceptions, combined with external pressures from the wildlife trade, make conservation difficult.

Faced with this challenge, a group of Bolivian Chevening alumni came together to find a solution.

With the support of the Chevening Alumni Programme Fund (CAPF), they put together a plan to shift indigenous communities’ attitudes towards jaguar conservation.

The power of education and film

Working directly with indigenous communities, the Chevening alumni involved in this CAPF project worked hard to create a safe space for dialogue and learning.

The team led a series of interactive workshops across four communities: San Pablo Sur, San Isidro, San Juan, and El Carmen. During these workshops, they explained the ecological importance of jaguars and other native animals, addressed the human-wildlife conflict, and presented strategies for coexistence.

To make the information more engaging, they brought along life-size models of jaguars. Many of the participants admitted that seeing the models helped ease their fears, as they had always imagined them to be much bigger!

A central part of the CAPF project was the screening of Jaguar Spirit, a powerful documentary directed by Chevening alumna Emi Kondo that portrays the cultural and environmental significance of jaguars in Bolivia.

Screenings took place within rural communities, including a special showing in San Pablo Sur, where part of the film was originally shot. This fulfilled a promise to bring the story back to its people, allowing them to see their own forests and culture represented on screen, in their own language.

With popcorn included, the screenings became both an educational and celebratory event.

Inspiring the next generation

As part of the CAPF project, the team also engaged with students at Carlos Herrera High School in Concepción, the principal education institution for youth in the region. As well as watching the documentary, senior students participated in workshops and created posters about jaguar protection.

Helping young people to build pride in their natural heritage was a particular focus for the CAPF team, who were inspired by the words of UK broadcaster, biologist, and author Sir David Attenborough:

Creating a lasting impact

In total, nearly 200 people participated in the workshops and screenings.

Across the board, surveys conducted before and after the activities showed a significant shift in perception. While most people initially expressed fear or hostility toward jaguars, afterwards they reported greater understanding, a more positive attitude, and increased openness to conservation messages.

Some community members even requested future activities to ensure that wildlife conservation becomes a part of their children’s day-to-day lives. In the spirit of Chevening, this is a testament to the fact that the project didn’t just raise awareness of a pressing environmental issue; it also helped to inspire the next generation of environmental leaders.