Starting Saturday, March 21, 2026, visitors will be able to view a selection of Pre-Columbian artifacts depicting jaguars at the La Aurora Zoological Park in Guatemala City. The objects, on loan through the Foundation, include an effigy vessel featuring a jaguar face in relief and painted decoration that evokes the rosettes of the animal’s skin; a miniature urn with lid from the Quiché region; a small stone sculpture; and a clay whistle representing a figure wearing a jaguar costume and mask.

All of these works are displayed in the newly expanded jaguar enclosure, a space designed to resemble a natural cave, from which visitors can observe the majestic animal through a large viewing window.

The display case is part of a new exhibition developed by the Guatemalan Association of Natural History, aimed at highlighting the profound symbolism of the jaguar in Maya culture, raising awareness of its importance to biodiversity, and promoting its conservation.

Visit it during the park’s opening hours, from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Photos by Valerie Syrowicz and Sofía Paredes Maury

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