Ocelot Leopardus pardalis

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Ocelots are one of the most beautiful feline species. Their coat is short and soft, forming two whorls on the shoulder, the hairline on the neck being directed towards the crown. Ground color varies from whitish or tawny yellow to reddish-grey. Markings run into chainlike streaks and blotches, forming elongate spots bordered with black enclosing an area darker than the ground color. The head is rather large with two black cheek stripes on each side surrounding an almost white area. Irises are brown or golden. The underside is snowy white with black spots, and the tail is ringed or barred with black on the upper side, whitish on the underside, and black tipped. Relatively short, stout legs, with large padded feet, are marked with solid black spots and bars. Like most wild cats, the backs of the rounded ears are black with a white central spot.

Ocelots occur today primarily in subtropical areas, from Mexico through Central America and most of tropical South America. At one time they ranged across much of the southern United States, and into northern Argentina. Fossils of this species have even been discovered in Florida. Although some authors believe that the species may still exist in Arizona, they are probably occasional wanderers from Mexico. Recent investigations have documented remnant populations in the brush country of southern Texas, and a feral population of released/escaped pets has been reported in Florida.

In the wild, ocelots inhabit a wide variety of habitats, from humid tropical forests, dense thorny chaparral, dry scrub, savannas, coastal mangrove and swamp forests. In Bolivia a wide distribution is seen with the cat occurring from the tropical valleys of the Andes at 3,800 meters, to lower areas in the east. The crucial habitat component is dense cover, with ocelots completely avoiding open country. They are moderately tolerant of human disturbance, and can co-exist with them if not persecuted.

Ocelots are one of the few small cats that have been studied in several different habitat types. Primarily nocturnal, they are solitary and territorial. Radio telemetry studies found adult females defend an exclusive territory of up to 14.3 square km (Belize), while the territories of males (up to 31.2 square km in Belize) overlap one or more female territories. One researcher has found that these cats cross and recross their home range in search of prey, sometimes crossing their entire range every two to four days. Males generally travel twice as far as females. This is a consequence of energy requirements, and the need to check on the sexual condition of the females within their range. They feed on a wide variety of small and medium size mammals and birds, as well as some reptiles, amphibians, and insects. A high portion of grass (20%) is consumed, a trait shared by other New World carnivores. They are excellent swimmers and climbers, but not as agile as the margay Leopardus wiedii.

After a 70 - 80 day gestation, one to three kittens are born in a dense thicket or among the roots of a fallen tree. The young remain in and around the den for several weeks, and remain dependent on their mother for several months. Sexual maturity is reached at about a year and a half for females and two and a half years for males. They disperse from their mother’s range at about two years. Wild ocelots may breed year round in the tropics, however the Texas cats show a fall breeding peak which could be a factor limiting their expansion into more northern habitat. Longevity has been reported at 27 years in a captive situation.

Ocelots have in the past been held in many zoo collections, and are probably the most well known small cat. Unlike most small cats, their breeding record in captivity was fairly good, but the breeding of these cats was not regulated, and many zoos were faced with the problem of an overabundance of offspring of unknown lineage. In addition, many zoo animals are cast off pets which have been declawed or otherwise rendered useless to a breeding program. A large number of these cats are also held by private breeders in North America, often for sale as pets.

Emphasis is increasingly turning towards in situ management programs for the tropical cats. The Sao Paulo Zoo in Brazil has built an off exhibit breeding facility for several small native felines, including the ocelot. It is hoped the natural conditions and familiar food will induce normal reproductive behaviour in these shy animals. A nuclear population will be established to maintain a level of genetic diversity, ensuring the survival of the species in South America.

This species has also been exploited in the wild by the pet trade, with the usual method of capture being to kill the mother to obtain the kittens. These cats can still be found in local markets in Central and South America for sale to the tourists as pets, although it is illegal to transport them without permits. As with most predators, they are occasionally shot on sight as alleged livestock killers.

One of the greatest threats to the species in Texas has been the automobile. Patches of suitable habitat are widely spaced and the migration of juveniles between these patches results in the death of many animals as they cross roads. The Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute is currently working on plans to create corridors between habitat patches that will allow the animals to migrate safely, and is also creating new habitat areas from previously unsuitable open areas. The estimated population of the Texas ocelot is less than 100 animals, which exist in small, isolated groups.

During the 1970's and 80's, the ocelot population was decimated by the fur trade, with hundreds of thousands taken. The implementation of strict controls, as well as the declining population, has seen a marked decrease in the number killed, although they are still taken illegally. The population is also declining due to pressures from habitat destruction, and the resulting lack of prey species. Although protected over most of their range, hunting is still allowed in Ecuador, El Salvador and Guyana. CITES has placed them on Appendix I.

The ocelot conservation story is filled with irony. It was because of their popularity as fur coats and exotic pets that we became familiar with them. While their wild populations continue to plummet, zoos are faced with an unwanted population. Perhaps the best thing to be said from the ocelot situation is that we have learned how not to manage a species, and we might learn from our mistakes.