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Last modified: Monday, September 7, 2009 2:43 PM CDT
Author donates book to Leach Library
by Anna Jauhola • Daily News
In 1996, Jack and Anna Mary Childs first caught a wild jaguar on camera while walking their dogs. The Childs live near Amado, Ariz., and spend a lot of time out doors. In 1999, they began an official study of Macho B, the first live wild jaguar to be studied for any length of time.
Anna Mary Childs was in Wahpeton recently to visit her sister, Nancy Schmidt, and decided to donate her and Jack's book, Ambushed on the Jaguar Trail: Hidden Cameras on the Mexican Border, to the Leach Public Library.
"I hope that adults and even young people will enjoy the journey," Childs said. "We call it the jaguar journey."
The study is called "Borderlands Jaguar Detection Project" and is funded by different agencies like the Phoenix Zoo.
The book features more than just Macho B. Through years of study, and 60 cameras along the trail, the Childs captured several species of wildlife native to the southwest including four species of skunks, cougars and deer. Some cameras even showed hikers posing for a picture.
"The study was so non-invasive that even naked people could walk in front of the cameras and not notice them," Childs said, laughing. Cameras caught at least two naked hikers.
The trail also harbors more than wild animals and hikers. In the area, there is currently a major drug war between two cartels, Childs said. One picture in the book shows two men carrying large bundles of marijuana on their backs like backpacks.
The book is mainly educational, Childs said. Many schools have purchased copies and used as part of curriculums. Others have the book in their libraries and students use them for projects on animals from the Southwest United States.
The Childs have finished their project, mainly because Macho B died of renal failure. However, Jack Childs is still putting all their pictures and data into a database from the project. He will offer the information to the Arizona Game and Fish Department for their use. Jack is well-known for his expertise on large cats. He was even featured on a MonsterQuest episode.
"It is the end of a chapter, but the beginning too because we're looking for another jaguar to replace [Macho B]," Childs said. "We'll continue to look for Macho C or a female."
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