Permit valid in capture of rare jaguar, Macho B, judge says

[Ptah]

Source: Arizona Daily Star {Tucson}

A federal judge has upheld a magistrate’s opinion that state and federal agencies held a valid permit to capture jaguar Macho B two years ago in Southern Arizona near the Mexican border.

U.S. District Judge Cindy Jorgenson’s ruling this week, however, did not dismiss federal charges filed against Janay Brun, the research technician who has admitted having placed jaguar scat at the site in the Atascosa Mountains two weeks before Macho B was found in a snare trap there on Feb. 18, 2009.

Jorgenson concluded — as did Magistrate Thomas Ferraro — that it’s up to a jury to decide if Brun was covered by the Endangered Species Act permit that was in effect between the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Macho B roamed in the wild for 12 days after being captured and radio-collared by researchers including a Game and Fish employee, until state and federal officials recaptured him on March 2 after his movements in the wild had slowed dramatically. He was euthanized the same day after authorities concluded he had incurable kidney failure.

Read more: http://azstarnet.com/news/local/article_08ed3b38-4600-11e0-962e-001cc4c03286.html