Contrary to their denials, employees of the Arizona Game and Fish Department intentionally snared the last known jaguar in the Southwest last year, a report by the federal government says.

Wildlife advocates and politicians had demanded a federal investigation of the capture of the male cat, nicknamed Macho B, which was freed soon after he was snared but later recaptured and euthanized because he was ailing. Many described the department’s account of his capture and death as suspicious.

The report, issued by the inspector general of the Interior Department, said the Arizona game and fish employees had acted inappropriately in many ways, starting with the snaring.

But Arizona’s Game and Fish Department called the document incomplete and denied that it was to blame.