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A jaguar seen struggling to swim in a Brazilian river was rescued by authorities and taken to a veterinary clinic, where it was treated for gunshot wounds.
Military police and wildlife experts created an improvised flotation device when the feline was seen struggling in the water of the Rio Negro, near Ponta Negra Beach.
A video shows the big cat being towed back to shore, where the jaguar was taken to a specialized veterinary clinic to be examined.
Veterinarians found the jaguar had been shot, and had bullet fragments under its skin. The big cat underwent surgery and is now recovering before eventually being returned to the wild.
Authorities said they have opened an investigation into who shot the jaguar, as the big cats are a protected species in Brazil.
