Arizona congressman’s requests related to jaguar capture

With BC-CNS-Jaguar Investigation

By Cronkite News Service

Here is the text of requests that U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., makes in a letter calling for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to investigate the capture and death of a jaguar in Arizona:

1. Whether the initial capture was legally and unintentionally undertaken or whether there was intent or evidence to suggest intent to capture and collar a jaguar;
2. The status of the jaguar capture protocol at the time of capture and how the state agency and/or contractors implemented any such protocol in this case.
3. The factors leading to the animal’s recapture, the two-day recapture itself, and whether this was a proper decision under the circumstances;
4. The health status of the animal prior to euthanization and whether there should have ben additional time or alternative measures taken to save the animal’s life;
5. Why a more thorough autopsy was not performed, instead of a cursory one designed to preserve the hide of the animal, who made that determination and upon what criteria this decision was made; and
6. The extent to which the Fish and Wildlife Service was involved in the events or decision-making in this case.