First jaguar born via artificial insemination eaten by its mother

The first jaguar born through artificial insemination was eaten by its mother after two days, reports The New York Post.

The healthy and vigorous female cub was born in Brazil in February. Her mother, a 5-year-old wild-born jaguar named Bianca, demonstrated “excellent maternal care” for her newborn on the first day, according to vets quoted by The New York Post.

It is not clear whether Bianca killed her cub or whether it was already dead, because “it was not seen on the monitors on the second day,” according to a spokesperson from the breeding project, as reported by FocusOn News.

“Despite the sad fact, it is not uncommon for this to happen, both in captivity and in nature, especially in the case of carnivores. Bianca was a first-time mother and this may also have influenced the event,” said a statement of the breeding program’s website.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical garden, which took part in the project, released a statement saying “despite its gruesome end, the cub’s birth is still cause for celebration. It’s the first jaguar cub ever born via artificial insemination.”

Vets with the breeding program hailed the birth as a scientific breakthrough for the conservation of the species.