Celebrating the charm of ocelots

 

Defenders is on the ground working to protect endangered ocelots from threats. The ocelots are so charming that South Texas holds an annual Ocelot Conservation Day festival. See why America’s ocelots are worth celebrating. What are ocelots? If you’re a keen-eyed cat connoisseur in South Texas, you may be lucky enough to spot one of America’s most adorable wildcats: the ocelot! These cunning creatures are about the size of house-cats, but make no mistake – they have a strong paw-sition in the wild. Where do they live? Not long ago, ocelots could be found across the entire Southwest. However, due to persecution and being hunted for their fur, they have almost disappeared in the U.S. Sadly, you’ll find only a small population of 60 to 80 ocelots in South Texas. So what's happening now? Ocelots are real paw-sitive contributors to the Texas landscape, but they're up against some serious challenges, like habitat fragmentation and treacherous traffic. It's time for us to lend them a helping paw. How can I help? Together, we can help these cats come back. Defenders is raising awareness of the presence of these furry felines on the landscape. We’re also fighting against industrial infrastructure that disrupts ocelot habitat. Your support paves a way for ocelots to prowl across the Southwest once again. Want to see more? Check out our Day in the Life video about Ocelot Conservation Day, featuring Defenders’ Senior Texas Representative Shari Wilcox!        Defenders of Wildlife 1130 17th Street NW • Washington, DC 20036 defenders.org  Photo credit: Ocelot © Martinus Scriblerus

Join Shari Wilcox, our Senior Texas Representative, and our partners in celebrating all things ocelot at the 2023 Ocelot Conservation Day. This endangered wildcat needs our help to survive on the Texas landscape. Learn more at defenders.org/ocelot. Video Transcript: Hi, I'm Shari Wilcox, Senior Texas Representative with Defenders of Wildlife. We're here today at the Gladys Porter Zoo to celebrate Ocelot Conservation Day with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Friends of Laguna Atascosa. Come join us as we celebrate. It's an action packed day. We're starting the day with a 5k fun run this morning. This event always has an amazing turnout and it's a beautiful day for it. Then I'm presenting a talk on this terrific native Texan, and we'll be out here all day spreading the word about ocelot conservation and how we can coexist with these wild cats. WAIT! Ocelots can be found in the United States? That's right! There is a small population of ocelots that reside in deep south Texas. We estimate that there are approximately 60 to 80 wild ocelots left in the state. And these cats are endangered. The festival was a success with incredible turnout from the Brownsville community. Thank you to everyone who came out to enjoy the day at the zoo and to learn a little more about their wild neighbors. Wild ocelots need our help in order to survive on the Texas landscape. Visit our website to learn more about this incredibly adorable wildcat and what you can do to help.