What Is the Jaguar’s Life Cycle?
Jaguars are usually born between December and March. It takes jaguars two to four years to reach full sexual maturity. Males mature slower than females, and both sexes remain with their mothers until they are 2 years old.
Upon reaching sexual maturity, jaguars may mate at any time of year, with a preference for the months between September and January. Gestation takes 100 days to complete. Jaguars are born blind, and they take three months to be weaned. They do not begin to hunt with their mothers until they are 6 months old. Males play no role in rearing the young and are driven off from the mother’s territory after mating. According to Big Cat Rescue, a wild jaguar has a life expectancy of 11 to 12 years, as compared to 20 years in captivity.
