Last of the jaguars?

Conservation groups and animal activists were saddened last week by the death of Macho B, the only jaguar known to live wild in the United States.

The large cat (pictured) was euthanized by Arizona Department of Fish and Game officials who decided to capture the creature because he appeared ailing with kidney failure. Only a few weeks earlier the department had caught and fitted Macho with a radio collar to track his movement in southern portions of the state.

Thought to be around 16 years old, the rare cat was the oldest jaguar known to live in the wild.

Macho’s death comes just weeks before the Center for Biological Diversity is scheduled to appear in court for its lawsuit attempting to force the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to establish a recovery area for the species.