There are not a lot of Ocelots: Steps to Recovery

Ocelot Recovery Plan

(Leopardus pardalis)

By: Claire Thompson

Description and Ecology of Organism

The medium-sized spotted cat has a pale-gray to cinnamon coloration near the upper parts of the body with spots on the head and two black stripes on the cheek. There are conspicuous white spots on its rounded, black ears. Elongated black-edged spots are arranged in chain-like bands on the body and the tail has dark bars, or incomplete rings. It is divided into as many as 11 subspecies that range from the southwestern United States to northern Argentina. The two sub-species that occur in the U.S. occur are the Texas/Tamaulipas ocelot and the Arizona/Sonora ocelot.

Geographic and Population Changes

In California, Arizona, and Florida, fossils of ocelots have been reported, however, the exact date of habitation is unknown. There are no fossil records in Texas, but it is assumed that they occurred there in prehistoric times. An ocelot carved on human bone from the time between 1400 and 1500 A.D., found in the Hopewell Mound Group, indicates that it may have extended into Ohio. This bone, however, could have been the result of a trade with distant human populations. The Texas/Tamaulipas ocelot inhabited southern and eastern Texas, perhaps stretching into Louisiana, but evidence to prove this is limited. The Sierra Madre highlands and the Mexican Plateau isolate the Texas/Tamaulipas ocelot from the Arizona/Sonora ocelot. Also, genetic analysis indicates that no genetic exchange has occurred between Texas and Mexico populations and that overall, both have lost genetic diversity due to this isolation.

Because the ocelot is a secretive, nocturnal carnivore, estimating the population sizes is difficult. As a result, it is challenging to generalize about the status and distribution of this species in the U.S. and northern Mexico.  In 1986, it was estimated that there were 80-120 individuals in Texas based on distribution of radio-tagged ocelots. In 2005, 38 ocelots were counted in Cameron County.

Listing Date and Type of Listing

The listing date of the First Revision Draft was August 26, 2010. It has been approved by the Regional Director and made available for public comment. The ocelot is listed as endangered.

Cause of Listing and Main Threats to its Continued Existence

The cause of listing is due to the present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of the ocelots’ habitat or range. The distribution in the U.S. has been drastically reduced in the last two centuries. It is limited to just a few of Texas’ southernmost counties. For example, in Cameron County, 91% of native woodlands were lost during the mid-1900s for agricultural use. More recently, this agricultural land is being converted into urban development. Another cause of listing is due to overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes. In 1970, ocelot imports peaked in the U.S. with 140,000 skins. In addition, disease or predation has threatened the ocelot populations. In South Texas, Notoedric mange (Notoedres cati) may have killed at least one ocelot in South Texas. The tapeworm (Taenia taeniaeformis) was also found in ocelots.  There is also an inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms. Because many ocelot populations occur on private land, it has been hard to survey and enforce laws for conservation. Roads, border issues, agricultural pesticides, climate change, and other natural or anthropogenic factors have affected its continued existence.

Description of Recovery Plan

The goal of the recovery plan is to: 

• Assess, protect, and enhance ocelot populations and habitat in the borderlands of the U.S. and Mexico
• Reduce the effects of human population growth and development on the ocelot
• Maintain or improve genetic fitness, demographic conditions, and health of the ocelot in borderland populations
• Assure the long-term success of ocelot conservation through partnerships, landowner incentives, community involvement, application of regulations, and public education and outreach
• Practice adaptive management in which recovery is monitored and recovery tasks are revised by USFWS
• Support efforts to conserve ocelot populations south of Tamaulipas and Sonora

Links to National Geographic Ocelot Information:

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

Follow this link for more interesting ocelot facts:

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

Works Cited:

"Ocelot." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 2015. Web. 5  June. 2015. 
        <http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/ocelot/>.

"Ocelot Facts." Big Cat Rescue. N.p., 15 Mar. 2015. Web. 5 June 2015. 

        <http://bigcatrescue.org/ocelot-facts/>. 

"Ocelot Recovery Plan." Endangered Species. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 26 Aug. 2010. Web. 4 June 2015. <http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/100826.pdf>.