Max, the Killer Jaguar, captured and euthanized
Bruce Cullerton was mauled to death by Max the Jaguar, on Monday night. It is a stunning and rare event and also a tragic one. Cullerton was the neighbor of Richard and Carol Foster, two outstanding film makers for the National Geographic Channel. Cullerton was an established roving mechanic and his remains will be cremated and the ashes will be scattered near the entrance to one of his favorite caves. But back to the cat, Max fled from captivity when a mango tree fell on his cage. How it came in contact and killed Cullerton has still not been ascertained but it is believed that he was attempting to save his dogs from the jaguar. On Tuesday night, Max was captured by a team of animal experts. News Five’s Isani Cayetano was has the details of Max’s capture.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Four year old Max, a male jaguar which escaped from captivity during Hurricane Richard over the weekend was snared and euthanized around ten-thirty p.m. on Tuesday after the vicious mauling of Bruce Cullerton the night before. Cullerton was planning to relocate to the United States for medical treatment on the day he was killed. He was a neighbor and family friend of Richard and Carol Foster, both renowned filmmakers. Cullerton was attacked and mangled by this hundred and thirty pound cat as it prowled the grounds near their properties situated off the Western Highway. It is uncertain what led to the deadly encounter but officials from the Forestry Department and the Belize Zoo were quick to respond to the animal’s capture. With help from Omar Figueroa, a jaguar researcher who also works in the area, Max was lured and caught several meters away.
omar figueroa
Omar Figueroa, Jaguar Researcher
“I did go out there and we scouted the area and we started to see signs of the cat. Signs that in fact the jaguar had not moved beyond a few hundred meters from where it was held captive.”
Max was held here in a reinforced enclosure where he was being reared and studied by the Fosters. According to Richard, they were making preparations to film the big cat for National Geographic Explorer when the incident took place. He was also present during the recapture of the jaguar.
richard foster
Richard Foster, Natural History Filmmaker
“Omar Figueroa, who is the jaguar researcher here, came over with his research traps where he catches jaguars in a snare system. There’s a radio attached to it so he knows immediately when it’s being sprung. We set all this stuff up during the early evening and waited in the house. I spent time on the roof trying to call the cat in because he knows me very well and at about I guess nine-thirty Omar had a positive signal on one of his traps and came up here and found a trap at the back behind Max’s, that’s the jaguar’s name, cage in the back there and he went down there and he found the cat in the snare hooked by the foot.”
The cat was then sedated and handed over to members of the Forestry Department who unsuccessfully attempted to encage him.
Omar Figueroa
“A cage trap was used and this is part of, I believe the Belize Zoo and Forestry Department’s response to when you have jaguars that are predating livestock. They go and they set traps but [uhm] it was just my opinion that given the circumstances with this cat and how weary it was about its surroundings that it probably would not enter one of these caged traps.”
Max was later placed into this cage, a larger pen where he was put to sleep by a lethal injection.
“This guy had to be put down to rest due to his actions that he had committed of taking human life hence you can see here.”
Richard Foster
“This is where he was injected in to the heart?”
“This where he was injected into the heart with a lethal injection.”
Richard Foster
“Jaguars are rare enough in Belize as it is and they are an important part of the tourist industry and it’s very sad to have to put down a cat like this but after this incident they didn’t really have an awful lot of options because there might be a public outcry about it.”
bruce cullerton
It is believed that Max had attacked Cullerton’s dogs after escaping from his cage when a tree fell unto it during the hurricane. 
On Monday night Cullerton and Foster surveyed the area in search of the jaguar but to no avail. It is also alleged that the cat subsequently attacked Cullerton when he tried to break up the confrontation between both animals. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
I do not agree with the ones responsible in putting Max to sleep, being that he was raised in captivity, there were/or are ways or alternatives for both captivity and introduce species at the Zoo. This does not give any right to have put the cat to sleep, like the saying goes you can remove or have something from the wild but you will never remove the wild from within them. They knew from the very beginning when they had max at the Zoo, they knew what can be the consequences with cats at an older age of maturity. this matter should not be put at rest, that means that every cat at the Zoo Life can be really like what they say” Endangered” now i see how the word applies for the Zoo..
In total aggreement with what Skywalker says and many others here. This is totally Richard Foster’s fault and he should be held liable! Once he knew the jaguar escaped he should have said something to the proper authorities immediately! He did not do so! He did tell Bruce that it had escaped when Bruce went to his house – but he should have never allowed Bruce to go home WALKING – he should have insisted on driving him home! Once he knew his jaguar escaped – it was his duty to go to each and every neighbor to warn them – he did not!
Jeebo – you say we complain about a proven deadly animal being put down and not mention the human life that was lost by this animal. I do not agree that is what anyone here is doing. Every single person here feels very bad that Bruce lost his life and for his family who lost him. The point that everyone here is trying to make here is that it was not the jaguar’s fault what happened – it was Foster’s!!! He should have NEVER been allowed to keep a wild animal where there are so many neighbors nearby. This beautiful jaguar is in no way responsible for what he did – he did what comes natural to his species – we as humans know this – so why cage him so close to people. I totally agree with your comment about Richard Foster. He seems to have lost all humanity indeed!
Jan, “hello its just an animal. A wild one to be specific” – did the wild animal ask this selfish human being to cage him – do you not think that when the hurricane started whipping through Belize that this poor creature felt trapped and afraid? Max was not “just an animal” – he was a protected species that was caged up! Yes he killed a person – but he did not think he was doing anything wrong – he did what comes natural to his species! Bruce’s death is on Richard’s hands – plain and simple!!!!!
I am very angry with all who decided to kill this jaguar. Richard Foster’s comment: “Jaguars are rare enough in Belize as it is and they are an important part of the tourist industry and it’s very sad to have to put down a cat like this but after this incident they didn’t really have an awful lot of options because there might be a public outcry about it.” Well Mr. Foster – the public outcry is that YOUR JAGUAR had to be euthanized because he did what comes natural to his species all BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO KEEP HIM AS A PET!!!! That and the fact that you and your wife – “two outstanding film makers for the National Geographic Channel” – wanted to do a documentary on this magnificent creature. So now we know what kind of “wild life” we see in that magazine! – Wild creatures held captive!!!! UTTERLY SHAMEFUL
I believe they should have rescued this cat and send this beautiful animal to the Zoo or
any Zoo in Central America . Zoo keepers are trained and could have been one more
beautiful exhibit for the world on such a rare animal. Its sad that such a drastic option
was taken.
There was a comment the fosters that belizean would be outragged if the cat was not put to sleep so why did they not get a pole if they should or shouldnt put the cat to sleep. This animal did not belong in those people care in the first place it should be right where it belong in the wild. Why do the authorities allow these amercians into our country over and over to do what the please?? Just like how belizeans vote for duets ect they could have got a pole to find out how people feel about the matter. Thats what needs to be done in these cases int he future because now there is an outburst of unhappy citizens and bitter feeelings about how american come and get what they in our little Belize. IT GOT TO STOP!
Please let wild animals remain in the wild where they belong, if you must study them I can’t imagine you would get optimal results if they are caged. So tragic!
I think it was unjust to kill such a beautiful creature. Mr. Cullerton’s death was not intentional and it IS sad but I don’t think Max should have been euthanized. He didn’t know what he was doing and I agree with the other comments that Max should have been taken to the zoo. How can we as Belizeans boast of reserves and speak to our children about preservation and conservation when actions like this one is carried out. Of what use then do we speak of Belize protecting and saving these precious animals and then have the media speaking of this atrocity. Max did not receive a just punishment…it was a rapid and senseless decision!!!
My condolences to the Cullerton’s Family Only The lord Knows why
these things happen my prayers are with you hold to the lord.
maybe You guys should have kept the jaguar at the zoo
Very sad for all involved. Why leave dogs outside at night when dangers abound? Shouldn’t humans know better? The Jaguar was just being a cat and should not have been killed. Very sad for Belize, surely a zoo somewhere would have taken him. Very tragic that a man lost his life, but I disagree with killing the endangered cat.
Its unbelievable that an animal whose natural instict is to killed to survive was killed for harming a dog. This animal was removed from its original habitat and placed in a cage, THESE ANIMALS CANNOT BE TAMED THEY ACT ON INSTICT. Who knows, maybe it felt threatened by the dog at the end of the day the only person/persons responsible for this tragedy are those who brought the animal to this location without properly securing it. They better thank God it wasnt one of them that got killed.The Belizean Government should use the same method and euthanize the “animals” thats killing innocent people on a daily basis. I hope Belize gets its act together cause its heading down the path os self distruction.
I wonder if his hide is for sale.
Let’s use the same method on the Killers in the concrete jungle, and on those who steal from the poor and the people of BELIZE in General. If you commit murder you wil be euthanized or dealt with in a similar manner, and the Politicians who rob from us will be robbed and dealt with accordingly. Condolences to MAX, hopefully your death can be turned to positve action. Condolences also to the family of the perpetrator of this sad incident, may your soul R.I.P. , to the victims of Hurricane Richard may Jah grant you all the strength and positive vibes to rebound from your tragedies…The world is watching, forget about all Political affiliation and come together, united we stand.
both families lost, both win, there was nothing else that could have been done.
I pray that there can be forgiveness towards one another, so they can live in peace and love.
Hope a lesson is learnt!
nevertheless a human life is far more important than that of a jaguar!!
I do not agree that put that pretty jaguar to sleep, This animal will always be wild. this animal should be keep in the zoo. Why they put him to sleep how comes those people that are killing innocent people why when they are caught they don’t put them to sleep.
What a complete tragedy for all involved, including the family of the individual who died. However, the real tragedy is the ignorance of the humans involved in this case. There is no way that accurate reasearch could be performed on a caged jaguar, despite your journalism prowess. Secondly, learn how to construct an enclosure that will keep this animal contained. It is a wild animal that is STRICTLY a carnivore. This cat was going after a dog because it was hungry, and likely nutrient deficient since being held in captivity. Not sure how ignorant you have to be to break up a fight between your dog and a jaguar, but other items work well such as a waterhose. If that doesn’t work, you may have to GO INSIDE and call the authorities. Breaking up a fight like that is like sticking your arm in a snake hole. No one individual should be allowed to own one of these animals; that should be left to professionals. I hope these “journalists” have learned a lesson from their stupidity.
Very sad to see something like this.Wild animals especially the big cats should be only held for breeding purposes (licensed).One point is wild cats tend to live twice as long in captivity as in the wild.
That said, a recent tiger attack of a zoo keeper that didn’t follow big cat handling protocol died
in Florida last week.