It’s not clear what happened to the jaguar that’s going viral for appearing to seek out humans for help after being shot in the face multiple times. Though no one knows what exactly led to its sad condition, millions around the world have seen Brazilian military police pull the injured jaguar to safety after they spotted it struggling in the Rio Negro. The Rio Negro is a large tributary of the Amazon River and the largest blackwater river in the world.
Batalhão de Policiamento Ambiental (BPAMB) shared the touching footage on Instagram. The video shows the jaguar approaching the boat and latching onto a flotation device the officers throw into the water. One officer reaches down and gives the jaguar a pet, as if reassuring it that they wanted to help.
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“On the afternoon of Wednesday, October 1st, [police rescued] an exhausted jaguar . . . near the Rio Negro bridge in Manaus,” wrote BPAMP in its post sharing the video. “The animal was attempting to cross toward Ponta Negra, apparently injured and swimming with difficulty [. . .] After the operation, the feline [went] for veterinary evaluation and will remain under the care of the appropriate agencies. It is already receiving veterinary care.”
Local news reports the jaguar survived surgery and is now receiving rehabilitation with hopes authorities will be able to release it back into the wild.
Watch what happens when some compassionate humans come across an injured jaguar in a Brazilian river:
Header stock image by Joanne Hedger/Getty Images