The Ocelot

By Kelly Delaney

Source:  http://revolutionaryecology.com/2013/12/06/endangered-ocelot-killed-by-capitalist-imperialist-car-culture/

     The Leopardis Pardalis, commonly known as the Ocelot, was officially listed as and Endangered Species on March 28, 1972 due to immense habitat destruction, the use of the animal's fur and the high demand for the Ocelot as a domestic pet. Although most of these problems occur outside of the United States, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service is still doing everything it can to ensure that this animal remains successful on an international scale. 

About the Ocelot

     The Ocelot is most well known for its intricate and fine fur which ranges in color from light yellow to red and is marked with dark brown rings and spots. Their fur is what makes them so popular among hunters and is a contributing factor to their steady decline as a species. They grow to be about 25 to 35 pounds and are about 30 inches long (National Geographic). To put this in perspective, they are about two times the size of a household cat. When kept in captivity the Ocelot can live up to 20 years and in the wild they live around 7 to 10 years (Defenders of Wildlife). The Ocelot is an extremely active nocturnal cat that can move up to 5 miles in a single night, catching about 3 meals in that time period (Defenders of Wildlife). Because the Ocelot is a carnivore, they tend to prey on animals such as rodents, reptiles, amphibians, rabbits, small deer and domestic livestock, their razor-like teeth make it extremely easy to rip though flesh while their rough tongues allow them to lick the bone clean, this is characteristic of most cats. Additionally, their main predators are coyotes, bobcats, wild dogs and of course, humans.

Habitat

     Ocelot's can be found throughout Central and South American regions that are north of Chile, small regions of the United States such as Arizona and Texas and on the border of Mexico. Ocelots tend to live under canopies in the South American rainforests where they can be covered by dense vegetation that offers them both protection and shelter, however, in the United States they live in brushlands that are often relatively close to residential areas (National Geographic). Because of this, Ocelots have been able to adapt to human habitats and can often have companionships with people, this leads into the Ocelot and their prevalence in the illegal pet trade. The map below shows different regions that the Ocelot may be found in. 

                                                                Source: http://www.theanimalfiles.com/mammals/carnivores/ocelot.html

Breeding
     Depending on where the female Ocelot is located, the breeding season may vary. For example, in Northern regions the breeding season occurs in autumn, yet in tropical locations, mating can occur throughout the year (National Geographic). The gestation period of an ocelot is anywhere around 79-85 days long and the litter can vary from 1 to 3 kittens. These kittens are born weighing about  3.2 ounces. Female ocelots reach sexual maturity faster then males at 2 years of age, while males are considered sexually mature at 2.5 years old. Once sexual maturity is reached, Ocelots tend to breed every other year ( The Animal Files).

Source: http://zooborns.typepad.com/zooborns/ocelot/

Main Threats
     Like most other animals that are threatened or endangered, the ocelot is not only the visit of one human impact, but three. Although two of these three impacts mainly occur outside of the United States, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service is still doing as much as it can to help preserve the populations of Ocelots. Below are the three main causes of the Ocelots endangerment.

1. Habitat Destruction
2. Fur Trade
3. The Exotic Pet Trade

• Habitat Destruction: It is no surprise that the Amazon Rainforest is being destroyed for Agricultural purposes, thus destroying the homes of any Ocelots that inhabit the area. However, the area that is most vulnerable to habitat destruction is actually southern Texas, another area that a small proportion of Ocelots live. The rise of urban development and the implementation of freeway systems all throughout the southern hemisphere of Texas is causing a slow decline in the population of Ocelots and causing more and more deaths of the Ocelot by vehicle. One main criticism of the recovery plan put into place by the Fish and Wildlife Service is that they did not allocate enough land to provide a sustainable habitat for the Ocelot populations that live there (Biological Diversity). Additionally, acts are currently in progress to stop the hunting of Ocelots on the basis that they are a threat to the livestock industry. It is estimated that there are less than 100 Ocelots left in Texas (Wild Cat Conservation).
• Fur Trade: Before habitat destruction became the main cause of the Ocelots endangerment, it was the illegal fur trade that initially wiped out Ocelot populations. Throughout Central and South America in the 1970 and '80s the fur trade reached an all-time high and nearly 200,00 Ocelots were killed annually for the use of their fur. Although laws have been put into place that have decreased this number dramatically, there is still a small demand for these furs and they can be purchased illegally for an extremely high price (Wild Cat Conservation).
• The Exotic Pet Trade: Another cause of the Ocelot's peril is the demand for them as pets. In South America, many hunters still capture kittens by killing their mothers and sell them to tourists as pet. This problem is not as prevalent today as it used to be due to the fact that it requires a permit to transport Ocelots across border and there are so few remaining that hunters are even struggling to find them in order to sell them. 

Recovery Plan

     The recovery plan of Ocelots set forth by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service focuses mainly on the Ocelot populations that are inhabiting southern Texas. Within the next five years, they hope to reconnect the populations in Texas and Mexico in order to make one larger population that can move freely between the borders. They also hope to dedicate more land that will not be affected by the rapid urbanization of southern Texas and provide incentives to farmers and livestock owners not to kill Ocelots. The main goal at the moment is to delist the species or at least downgrade them from endangered to threatened. This can be done by improving the genetic fitness of Ocelots by expanding their populations and regions in which they inhabit and also by educating the public on ways in which they can help improve the quality and longevity of the Ocelot's life. 

Personal Action

     For my personal action I would write a letter to the Obama administration urging him to place tighter regulations and higher penalties on farmers that harm or kill Ocelots because they believe that they are threat to their livestock. Additionally I would ask that he or someone in his administration consider allocating more money to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service so that they are able to reconnect multiple populations of Ocelots. Another thing that could be done that would inform farmers that Ocelot's are not predators of livestock is to work on educating them on what is and what is not a threat to them. It is natural to be fearful of something that is not familiar, but if we educate the public and tell them the rick that Ocelot's are in of becoming extinct, it would be a giant step in removing Ocelot's of the endangered species list. 

What can we do?

• A Symbolic Adoption: "Adopting" an animal can help provide funds to organizations that are trying to protect and preserve a certain species. Although you may not have personal contact with the animal, you can rest assured that you are doing something to help its survival. 
• Write Government Officials: One action that can make a dramatic difference in the lives of animals is by writing government officials about problems that occur that affect wildlife populations. For example, there has been much criticism of the Obama administration about not addressing the killing of endangered Ocelots in Texas due to the belief that they are a threat to farmers income. Speaking up for animals who can not speak for themselves is a great way to ensure that action will be taken.
• Stay Informed: Simply knowing that there are problems in the world that are devastating animal populations is a huge step in recognizing what you can do to make a difference. Once you are informed of the problems, you can spread the word and let people know how they can make a difference. 

Works Cited

Biological Diversity. "Saving the Ocelot." Biological Diversity website:

     http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/mammals/ocelot/

Defenders of Wildlife. "Basic Facts About Ocelots." Defenders of Wildlife website:

     http://www.defenders.org/ocelot/basic-facts

National Geographic. "Ocelot." National Geographic website: 

     http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/ocelot/

United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Environmental Conservation Online System.
     "Ocelot Recovery Plan." August 22, 1990. United States Fish and Wildlife Service website:

      http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/100826.pdf

Wild Cat Conservation. "Ocelot" Will Cat Conservation website:

     http://www.wildcatconservation.org/wild-cats/south-america/ocelot/

The Animal Files. "Ocelot". The Animal Files website: 

     http://www.theanimalfiles.com/mammals/carnivores/ocelot.html