Our film is grounded in the story of Jaguares Sin Protección, a grassroots coalition of conservation scientists, rural landowners, and local houndsmen working together to monitor and protect jaguars in the Sierra de Vallejo region — a vital ecological corridor near Puerto Vallarta that connects fragmented forest patches and supports diverse migratory species. Jaguares Sin Protección is an official civil association (AC) in Mexico, and you can also visit their site to support their vital conservation work directly.

PRIMERO Conservation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to conserving, enhancing, and restoring Mexico’s endangered carnivore species. They work through science-based partnerships with ranches, landowners, communities, and organizations to improve wildlife habitat while supporting social and economic development. In our film, we feature PRIMERO’s Ron Thompson and National Geographic Explorer Ivonne Cassaigne, who bring critical expertise and cross-border collaboration to the effort to study and protect Mexico’s remaining jaguar populations.

Esperanza is a short documentary project that tells the story of grassroots jaguar conservation in Western Mexico. We’ve self-funded all on-site production through two dedicated trips, capturing rare footage and powerful local stories. We’re now seeking support to complete post-production—editing, sound, color, music, and finishing touches that will bring this important film to life. Please consider making a donation below, and see exactly where your contribution goes in our detailed post-production goals.