Jaguar Cub Named Mayara

The young American jaguar was born on June 11, and her successful rearing is a remarkable achievement for Zlín Zoo. Over the past year, only ten jaguar cubs have been successfully raised in zoos around the world.

Mayara’s godmothers are three keepers — Marie, Sára and Ivana — who take care of the jaguars, as well as Mrs. Alena Krmenčíková from Vsetín, a long-time supporter of the zoo who has donated nearly CZK 300,000 to the care of big cats.

The name Mayara was chosen by Zlín Zoo’s fans on Facebook. Out of three proposed names — Mayara, Tory, and Isilmë — the winning name means beloved girl, little flower, or great river in an ancient Brazilian language.

The christening attracted hundreds of visitors, who could see not only the naming ceremony with a plush toy representing the cub, but also a commented feeding and jaguar training session. The star of the event was, of course, little Mayara herself. Keepers describe her as curious, playful, and brave. Under the watchful eye of her mother Yuna, she is learning quickly and thriving — she already weighs about ten kilograms.

Zlín Zoo has a long history of keeping jaguars, dating back to the 1960s. After a break, the species returned in 2022 when the zoo opened Jaguar Trek, the largest jaguar exhibit in Europe.