The jaguar is a symbol of beauty, strength and majesty revered throughout the Americas. With lore and mythology that goes back centuries, to ancient cultures such as the Mayas, Olmecs and Aztecs, the jaguar was more than a beautiful and fierce predator, it was also a deity, often known as Balan. The jaguar is known to have the strongest bite of all the big cats, and takes its name from the ancient word yaguar which means “he who kills with one blow.”
However, the jaguar is a species that has suffered greatly at the hands of humanity due to illegal poaching, loss of biological diversity and prey depletion, habitat destruction and retaliatory killing by cattle ranchers.
With only an estimated 15,000 left in the wild, 4,000 of which are thought to live in Mexico, the future of jaguar populations around the world is at risk.
How Web3 Can Help
House of Panther (HOP) is an upcoming NFT collection that is committed to the longevity and survival of jaguar species around the world,
starting with Mexico and through its partnership with ORGFAS (Organizacion de Rescate, Rehabilitation, y Reproduccion). This organization has been working with the Mexican government for over the last decade to rescue wildlife and provide a refuge for jaguars whose environments have been compromised due to development, growth and human encroachment.
Another area where Orgfas helps is that often these beautiful wild cats are often sought after as pets – of course once they become a bit larger, their wealthy owners realize that having a large wild cat that can kill you with one blow may not be the best idea for keeping as a pet. The Orgfas sanctuary houses and cares for these exotic cats at its sanctuary in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Other animals that Orgfas specializes in rescuing are monkeys, raccoons, coatis, and many other different types of wild fauna and birds. In coordination with the Mexican authorities, hundreds of animals have been rescued and returned to nature by Orgfas. The organization also creates educational programs, operates a zoo ambulance, and provides veterinary care to wildlife.
Guardians of Nature
HOP is part of the Guardians of Nature NFT collective and an active participant in the community to educate about the plight of wildlife and conservation. HOP holders will also get access to the best events and happenings in the Mexican Riviera such as Giorgia Angiuli live in Tulum, the Zen Experience, and visits to the jaguar sanctuary.
On this International Day of the Jaguar, let’s take a moment to celebrate this beautiful and majestic cat. The NFT Boutique in Tulum will be holding a special event tonight at 7pm in conjunction with its partners More Women in Crypto, the Zen Experience, and House of Panther. The team at the Zen Experience has contributed to the veterinary care and transport of jaguars to the Orgfas sanctuary and will be hosting a special screening of their journey to recovery. There will also be an an educational talk about the magic of these mystical and majestic animals.
Full disclosure: The author owns NFT Boutique and Unlockable Content Agency behind several NFT collections.
