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Photo Credit: Tambako the Jaguar

Researchers at the Wildlife Conservation Society at the Bronx Zoo made an interesting discovery when trying to lure cheetahs and other big cats to camera traps.  Of 23 different scents tested, Calvin Klein’s Obsession for Men was able to attract the cheetahs for 11.1 minutes!  Described as “the pure essence of masculinity,” CK Obsession may have better results on the felines rather than the ladies.

This discovery has been relayed to researchers in Maya Biosphere, a protected tropical rainforest in Guatemala, who have been spraying the scent on rags staked by hidden camera traps.  Jaguars are reportedly quite fond of the scent, pawing, rubbing and even nuzzling with the ‘obsession’ doused rags.  Scientists have even been able to collect DNA from jaguars nuzzling the rags and even captured rare mating rituals.

The cat’s reaction to the scent is most likely because of one component, synthetic ‘civet.’  The smell based from a gland secretion from the civet cat, a wild Asian and African cat, is responsible for Obsession’s musky scent.  With the documented success in Guatemala researchers plan to expand the use to wilderness areas throughout Central and South America.  Hopefully the new environmentally friendly technique will allow us to learn more about the elusive creatures, while not further disturbing there shrinking habitats.

Learn more about the Jaguars here.