About us
Our Story
Onçafari was established in August 2011, when the co-founder and creator of Onçafari, former Formula 1 racing driver, Mario Haberfeld, began his work at the Caiman Ecological Refuge (CER).
2011
Onçafari is born. Beginning of work in the Pantanal biome (Caiman Ecological Refuge)
Onçafari starts operating at the Caiman Ecological Refuge
Oct. 2011 - The first Cub of Esperança recorded by Onçafari's team is born
Natureza is born, the first Cub of Esperança monitored by Onçafari. Esperança has been followed since the beginning of our activities and her habituation has been passed on for generations, allowing Onçafari to follow the history of her family.
Oct. 2011 - First radio collar on a jaguar at the Caiman Ecological Refuge
The first radio collar with GPS is put on a jaguar by the Onçafari team (on the jaguar known as Chuva).
2012
Mar. 2012 - First jaguar cub recorded in a camera trap by Onçafari
The first video of a jaguar cub is recorded by Onçafari . The female named Garoa was with her mother, Chuva, a jaguar with a radio collar already monitored by our team.
Oct. 2012 - First radio collar of Esperança
Esperança is captured for the first time at the Caiman Ecological Refuge and receives her first radio collar.
2013
May 2013 - Found the first jaguar “den”
The first jaguar den ever recorded in nature is found by Onçafari. In it there were Ypy, Savana and Gaia, the three cubs of Esperança.
Nov. 2013 - The first grandchildren of Esperança are born after the creation of Onçafari
Felino and Felina are born, first cubs of Natureza, and also the first grandchildren of Esperança.
2014
Apr. 2014 - Launch of the documentary ``Jaguar: Closer than you think``, WCP/Marca D'água
Launch of the first documentary about the work of Onçafari. “Jaguar – Closer than you think” brings to the public the first steps of the Onçafari team in monitoring wild jaguars.
May 2014 - Certification of the first Brazilian Tracker by the South African Tracker Academy
The field guide Disnei Sousa is the first Brazilian to be certified by the Tracker Academy after 15 days of intensive course in South Africa. Disnei developed fauna tracking skills through footprints and other traces investigation, refining the study and observation tourism of jaguars by Onçafari.
Jun. 2014 - Rescue of the orphan sisters
After their mother’s accidental death, the sisters Isa and Fera are rescued and sent to captivity.
2015
Mar. 2015 - Launch of the book ``Wild Soul`` by the publisher Avis brasilis
The first book depicting the moments and experiences that inspired the founder Mario Haberfeld to create Onçafari is launched by the publisher Avis brasilis. “Wild Soul” brings records of encounters with wildlife and talks about the beginning of the work in Pantanal.
Apr. 2015 - First free-range darting in the Pantanal
The first jaguar is captured by the free-range darting technique. Nusa was captured using a dart containing anesthetic, which made it possible to put her first radio collar.
Jun. 2015 - Beginning of Onçafari Rewild in the Pantanal
The sisters Isa and Fera are transferred from captivity to the reintroduction enclosure at the Caiman Ecological Refuge to start training so they can return to nature.
2016
Jan. 2016 - Publication of the first collaborative scientific paper of Onçafari
The first scientific paper prepared with the collaboration of data from Onçafari is published. Represented by Onçafaris’s veterinarian Joares May Júnior as one of the authors, the article “Rickettsial infection in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) of wild animals in midwestern Brazil” was published in the scientific journal “Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases”
Mar. 2016 - 50th jaguar registered at the Caiman Ecological Refuge - Pantanal
The male Bahati is spotted and becomes the 50th different jaguar registered by Onçafari team at the Caiman Ecological Refuge.
Jun. 2016 - Back to nature - Pantanal
After almost one year of rehabilitation, the gates of the enclosure in the Pantanal are finally opened, Isa and Fera walk free back to nature.
Sept. 2016 - Rescue of two jaguar cubs, transported to NEX
The two little jaguars Pandora and Vivara are found in the Amazon, rescued and transported to NEX, a feline sanctuary located in Goiás state, to receive intensive care.
Mar. 2016 - Launch of the documentary ``Jaguars: Brazil's Super Cats``, BBC
The documentary “Jaguars: Brazil’s Super Cats” is released. Produced in partnership with the British company BBC and narrated by Sir David Attenborough, the documentary is part of the series “Natural World” and internationally enshrines Onçafari’s actions in the conservation of jaguars by showing the first successful reintroduction of the world of two orphaned animals in the Pantanal region.
Dec. 2016 - Work begins on the Atlantic Forest biome (Velo Cittá)
Partnership with Velo Cittá begins in Mogi Guaçú – SP and Guará Cittá is born, the study of the region’s maned wolves by the Onçafari team.
2017
Mar. 2017 - Launch of the book ``Panthera onca`` by the publisher Avis brasilis
The book “Panthera onca” is released by the publisher Avis brasilis, a work entirely dedicated to the Jaguar. The book brings together cultural and scientific aspects of the life history of the largest feline of the Americas.
Apr. 2017 - Start of work in the Amazon biome (Pousada Thaimaçu)
Begins the partnership with Pousada Thaimaçu, in the Amazon, and camera traps are installed in a large area in the region.
Jun. 2017 - First year of freedom for Isa and Fera
After one year of the reintroduction, Isa and Fera established territories, hunt, mate, defend their living areas and are still monitored by the Onçafari team.
Sept. 2017 - First radio collar on a maned wolf at Velo Cittá
The first radio collar with GPS is put on a maned-wolf by the Onçafari team (male known as Velo).
2018
Apr. 2018 - 100th jaguar registered at the Caiman Ecological Refuge - Pantanal
The male Pirata is registered in a camera trap and becomes the hundredth different jaguar registered by Onçafari in the Caiman Ecological Refuge
Apr. 2018 - Isa's first cub is born - the world's first cub of a reintroduced jaguar
Aurora is born, Isa’s cub, one of the reintroduced sisters. It is the first cub of a successfully reintroduced jaguar in the world.
Jun. 2018 - The first cubs of Fera are born
Céu and Ferinha are born, cubs of Fera, the other reintroduced sister.
Jun. 2018 - Beginning of Onçafari Rewild in the Amazon
At this moment, a new stage in the history of these jaguars has begun. In July, Pandora and Vivara were transported to the enclosure that was built in the Amazon for their rehabilitation and return to nature.
Aug. 2018 - Rescue of Jatobazinho, the debilitated male
Found extremely thin and fragile in a schoolyard, the jaguar named “Jatobazinho” is rescued and sent to captivity to recover.
Aug. 2018 - The first great granddaughter of Esperança is born
Shiva is born, Esperança’s first great-granddaughter. Her mother, Leen, is the daughter of Gaia, one of the triplets found in the first den registered by the team in 2013.
Aug. 2018 - Work begins on the Cerrado biome (Pousada Trijunção)
The expansion of ecotourism and science in a new biome begins. The focus now is to study and habituate maned wolves, besides jaguars.
Aug. 2018 - Book launch ``The Jaguar within the Pantanal's culture`` by WCP publisher
The book “The Jaguar within the Pantanal’s culture” is released by the publisher WCP. Bringing together aspects of the interaction between jaguars and people in the Pantanal region, the book shows records and achievements of Onçafari during its early years of operation.
Sep. 2018 - First melanic jaguar identified by Onçafari in the Cerrado - Pousada Trijunção
The first melanic jaguar identified by the Onçafari in the cerrado biome is recorded in a camera trap at Pousada Trijunção. Una was accompanied by her mother Lua, a jaguar with a normal color pattern.
Dec. 2018 - First radio collar on a maned wolf at Pousada Trijunção
The first radio collar with GPS is put on a maned wolf at Pousada Trijunção (male known as Diadorim).
2019
Jan. 2019 - Arrival of Jatobazinho at the reintroduction enclosure - Pantanal
Jatobizinho is transferred to the reintroduction enclosure at Refúgio Ecológico Caiman, where training begins before the reintroduction.
Apr. 2019 - First melanic jaguar registered by Onçafari in the Amazon - Pousada Thaimaçu
The first melanic jaguar identified by Onçafari in the Amazon biome is recorded in a camera trap at Pousada Thaimaçu. The male, named Jaú, proves the occurrence of melanism among the jaguars in the new area monitored by Onçafari.
Jun. 2019 - Found the first maned wolf den
The first maned wolf den is found, with two puppies of the wolf Vereda. Her radio collar recorded a cluster of more than a consecutive day, leading the team to the discovery.
Jul. 2019 - Back to nature - Amazon
After one year of rehabilitation in the Amazon enclosure, the sisters Pandora and Vivara gained freedom and returned to nature in a Brazilian Air Force reserve.
Jul. 2019 - Acquisition of the first area of the Onçafari Forests (São Benedito River bank - Pará)
As a measure to reduce deforestation in the Amazon region, Oncafari acquires an important area for the preservation and maintenance of the forest on the banks of the São Benedito River, in the south of the state of Pará.
Sep. 2019 - Wildfire at Caiman
For more than 20 days, an unprecedented fire burned most of the Caiman Ecological Refuge. In a joint effort between government,Caiman Ecological Refuge, Onçafari team, Arara Azul team and other important partners, the fire was controlled.
Oct. 2019 - New home for Jatobazinho - Argentina
The jaguar Jatobazinho travels to Argentina, where he will provisionally live in a big reintroduction enclosure and in a near future will gain freedom and assist the repopulation of jaguars in the Iberá wetlands, in Argentina.
Foto por Donal Boyd BTS Nature
Foto por Donal Boyd BTS Nature
Foto por Donal Boyd BTS Nature
Nov. 2019 - Isa's second cub is born
Birth of Aracy, Isa’s second cub, one of the reintroduced sisters.
2020
Feb. 2020 - Publication of the first scientific article prepared exclusively with data from Onçafari
The article “Antagonistic interactions between predator and prey: mobbing of jaguars (Panthera onca) by white-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari) is published in the scientific journal ” Acta Ethologica “.
Mar. 2020 - Start of work in the Salobra Delta (Refúgio da Ilha)
Partnership with the Refúgio da Ilha begins in an important transition area between Cerrado and southern Pantanal.
Mar. 2020 - 150th jaguar registered at the Caiman Ecological Refuge - Pantanal
The cub Lampião is registered in a camera trap along with his mother, Maria Bonita, and becomes the 150th different jaguar registered by Onçafari at Caiman Ecological Refuge.
