Millions of acres sought for jaguar in N.M., Ariz.

An environmental advocacy group has proposed that federal officials set aside millions of acres in Arizona and New Mexico for a jaguar reintroduction program.

Michael Robinson of the Center for Biological Diversity recently told the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that the endangered cats need more than the 1,300 square miles the agency proposed in August.

For the jaguar to be saved, the animal needs a reintroduction program that includes the two states and is similar to one for Mexican gray wolves, he said.

The group asked for the critical habitat to be designated in parts of Gila National Forest and parts of Arizona.

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