TUCSON, Ariz. -- An Arizona Game and Fish employee has been placed on paid administrative leave as a result of its internal investigation into the capture and death of a jaguar last year.

Game and Fish officials did not identify the employee Tuesday.

The jaguar called Macho B was found snared in a Game and Fish trap in the wilderness between Arivaca and Nogales on Feb. 18, 2009. It was the only known wild jaguar in the United States.

Officials fitted the jaguar with a satellite tracking collar and released him, authorities said. When it was released, Game and Fish Endangered Species Coordinator Terry Johnson said the jaguar appeared to be healthy and hardy.

The jaguar was recaptured due to health problems and euthanized on March 2, 2009. Since April, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been conducting a criminal investigation into the events surrounding Macho B's capture and death.

The investigation is in the hands of the U.S. Attorney's office.