The Ocelot

by: Mariela Martinez

Background

Leopardus pardalis, commonly known as the Ocelot, a small feline but huge contributor to the Western hemisphere. Don't be fooled by its size they have pointed fangs used to deliver a killing bite, and sharp back teeth that can tear food like scissors. They have a beautiful fur coat that seems to be welcoming to cuddle with. And what about those captivating large round eyes, one can almost say they draw you in right? Well they are not just for looks, they allow them to see at night when they are most active. But enough sweet talk about this charming cat, it is time to get serious. This animal that we just described as appealing to the eye is in grave danger. In 1982 it was listed as endangered in the state of Texas and special concern in Arizona. What does that mean? It means that its population is decreasing, just like many other species listed under the Endangered Species Act. Although uncommon in California, it does not mean we should not worry about it, on the contrary we should help conserve it.

Geographic Ranges
Where can I find an ocelot, you may ask. Well my dear reader let me tell you where you can find one. Depending where you live is how far you may need to travel, in my case I am from California so I would need to pack my bags and book a trip to South of Texas and Arizona, Central and South America into Northern Argentina and Uruguay, which is where they are mainly found. Such an array of places right? Well, they do not have a prevalent preference on temperature since they can be found in tropical, pine, gallery, riparian and semi-deciduous forests, savannas, shrub lands, and marshlands. Their adaptiveness to different climates allow them to survive in almost any type of habitat but since they are sit and wait predators they do demand cover of at least 75%. Meaning that their habitat must be covered at least 75% by trees, shrubs, or grasses that will allow them to stalk their prey before they pounce and devour them. The only problem? Us.

Declining Numbers

No you did not read wrong, we are the problem of their population decline. We as humans are egocentric and possessive and like to think that this planet is ours and we can do as we please with it, but that is not correct. We live in a planet that we have to share with the rest of the species that inhabit it. Okay but how, what is it that we do that is causing this particular species to decline? For starters we are converting much of the habitat that they use for development and agriculture. Our obsession with expansion is what is causing habitat fragmentation and loss. This fragmentation is causing separation which can lead to inbreeding within the populations, and genetic drift. This is only part of it though, remember how I was talking about how good-looking this cat is, well so does the illegal fur and pet trade. Ocelots are also victims of this,  putting them in more danger and by who? Us, the humans. I do not mean to sound like negative Nancy but we are huge contributors to their decline. Now don't get me wrong there are people who do care and are actively doing something to maintain and recover the species.

Improving Ocelot Numbers

The ocelot recovery is monitored by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in coordination with the Ocelot Recovery Program (ORP). These two organizations have an established recovery plan that if it goes as planned, the ocelot could be delisted by 2040. What is their plan you ask, let me tell a bit about this recovery plan. They have to start off by assessing the current status of the population, numbers, habitat conditions, geographic ranges and so on. Then comes the hard part, convincing humans to decrease the amount of development and negative effects they have on the population of the ocelots. From here USFWS and ORP will work on managing and even improving the genetic fitness and health of existing and future generations of this feline while reaching out to the public with information to educate them on how they too can be a part of this recovery. Me? Well I plan on being an educator of the ocelot. 

Let's Bring Back the Ocelot!
Yes you heard right, my plans for the future are to work at a zoo educating the public about species such as the ocelot that are in danger of becoming extinct. My passion for animals and education lead me to make this career choice. What if the zoo doesn't work out? I will reserve to option number 2, become a teacher at a high school teaching environmental science. What is that I hear? You want to get involved too? I have the perfect links for you dearest reader of mine. My all time favorite is blackjaguarwhitetiger.org where Eddie, the creator of this program focuses on the conservation of wild cats and has an ocelot. You can follow them on Facebook and Instagram as well and see his daily posts of all the great work he has done. There is also defenders.org which gives more information and facts about the different species that are also declining in size. Both websites allow for donations and have pages that give more information of how to get involved. I hope this blog post was able to inspire you to become more involved in the protection of wild species and makes you want to do more for their conservation so future generations are able to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of animals. Below in the reference section you can find more information on animal conservation in general and the ocelots. Now...LET'S BRING BACK THE OCELOT!

References
https://www.defenders.org/sites/default/files/ocelot-range-map-2.jpg
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/ocelot/
http://www.defenders.org/ocelot/basic-facts
http://blackjaguarwhitetiger.org
http://www.wildcatconservation.org/wild-cats/south-america/ocelot/