Ocelot - Christine Peters

Ocelot

Leopardus pardalis

https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/Ocelot%20Final%20Recovery%20Plan_Signed_July%202016_new%20(1).pdf

Description and Ecology

The ocelot(Leopardus pardalis) is part of the cat family, that ranges throughout southern states in the US and parts of Mexico and South America. It has a light brown body, with black and brown spots, and a light-white underbelly; their tail has complete rings around it and other stripes on head and neck. They have a weight range from 7-16kg, with gender being an influencing factor on weight, males being heavier. It has been said to have at most 11 different subspecies within the ocelot population. For this recovery plan, it is focused on the Arizona-Sonora Ocelot and the Texas-Tamaulipas ocelot.

Geographic and Population

There has been evidence that the ocelot used to reside over most of southern United States. Currently there are known populations in far southern Texas, South Arizona, Coastal Mexico, Ecuador and Northern parts of Argentina. There are fossils of ocelots that were located in California and Florida, but currently there is no evidence that they are residing there in the present. Many populations in Texas are separated by habitat fragmentation, with no current way to travel between them.

https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/Ocelot%20Final%20Recovery%20Plan_Signed_July%202016_new%20(1).pdf

Listing Date and Type of Listing

The ocelot was first listed as endangered in 1972 from the Endangered Species Act, but only for Central and South America because of a mistake in the listing. It was later included for the United States on July 21, 1982. As of 2015, the ocelot considered on the IUCNs Red List as "Least Concern," which is a criteria for delisting and downlisting the species. It has been listed as least concerned a few times since 1982, but the population us continuing to decrease.

Cause of Listing and Main Threats

One of the largest threats to the ocelot population is habitat destruction and fragmentation. Many of their habitats have been converted in agricultural sources, or built up into urban communities. Urbanization continues to take habitats to make way for new sprawling communities. Roads between metapopulations cause many deaths, mostly from getting hit by cars and other automobiles. There also has historically been a problem with ocelots being hunted; they were hunted for their furs to be made into clothing and other products.

As the population continues to decline, it makes it harder for the populations to survive. With their smaller populations, it leads to lower fitness and genetic diversity, which ultimately leaves them struggling to adjust to randomness within populations.

https://naturepunk.deviantart.com/art/VERY-VERY-OLD-OCELOT-PELT-202882247

Description of Recovery Plan

Recovery Plan:

1. Make ocelot habitats more livable to them in Mexico and the United States by rebuilding and reversing fragmentation
2. Reduce human impact on the populations of ocelots
3. Improve the health and genetic variability in the ocelot populations
4. Making sure the population lasts by making it desirable for the human population around ocelots
5. USFWS and the Bi-national Ocelot Recovery Team monitor the recovery
6. Support international efforts to make sure of how the ocelot is doing south of Tamaulipas and Sonora

To be down-listed:

1. Has to qualify for “Least Concern” for the IUCN Red List for 5 years and threats have been decreased to where the ocelot isn’t in danger of extinction
2. The Texas-Tamaulipas ocelot has to have 200 individuals in Texas and at least 1,000 in Tamaulipas for 5 years
3. The Arizona-Sonora Ocelot must have 1,000 ocelots in their population of 5 years

To be delisted:

1. Has to continue to qualify for “Least Concern” for 10 years and threats have been decreased so that they may have healthy populations
2. The Texas-Tamaulipas ocelot has to have 200 individuals in Texas and at least 1,000 in Tamaulipas for 10 years
3. The Arizona-Sonora Ocelot must have 1,000 ocelots in their population of 10 years

https://animalsadda.com/ocelot/

What can you do?

Write politicians in Arizona and Texas to continue to support conservation of the ocelot.

Get the word out so that other people know about the problem with all endangered species, not just ocelots.

If you live near ocelot populations, make sure that you are careful when driving, and that your home would not harm them in anyway.

Take a stand against poaching.

Other resources

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/11509/0

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

https://www.livescience.com/55072-ocelot-facts.html

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

http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/ocelot

https://bigcatrescue.org/ocelot-facts/

https://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/texas/newsroom/texas-by-nature-ocelots.xml

Blog Author: Christine Peters