The ocelot, ounce cat or margay (Leopardus pardalis) is a species of feline native to America and is considered the largest of the small felines, with about 30-60 cm in length. Similar to the jaguar (Panthera onca), it is a very striking species due to its spotted design (ocelli, bands and stripes) and its color, with large expressive eyes that make it a very unique feline. Its spots or ocelli function as an identity document, since its shape is never repeated and allows the identification of the animal. Inhabitant of jungles and forests, it is a ste althy hunter and elusive with humans, so it is not easy to observe.
Precisely because it is not an easy animal to see, many people wonder if the ocelot is in danger of extinction or notIn this article on our site we talk about it and explain some more features of this wonderful animal, keep reading!
Ocelot habitat and feeding
As we mentioned earlier, the ocelot inhabits areas of jungles and forests, from the southern United States to southern South America, except Chili. It prefers humid areas, although it can also be found in arid areas, but always with a dense vegetation cover. It is an excellent hunter and tree climber, consuming a wide range of prey ranging from fish, birds, and bats to larger mammals. It is a crepuscular and nocturnal species, so it prefers nocturnal prey.
Unlike the puma and the jaguar (larger cat species), the ocelot can exploit other habitats because it is a smaller species, as well as access smaller prey, although if the opportunity can hunt larger prey such as sloths or roe deer. Although it hunts on the ground and in trees, unlike other feline species it does not stalk, so it spends a lot of time carefully exploring its living area (area where it lives and hunts), sometimes in pairs or alone and always very ste althy. Naturally, their enemies are the puma, the jaguar, the harpy eagle and some species of boas.
Today, due to different anthropic activities, humans have become a danger to this species.
Why are some cats in danger of extinction?
When a species and all its members are in danger of disappearing from the earth, it is considered endangered. Currently, many feline species around the world are in danger of extinction or under some category of threat, and there are many causes that can cause the decline of their populations.
The loss and fragmentation of habitats, the illegal hunting to trade their skins or other parts for medicinal value for some cultures, the existence of diseases for some species and the decline of their prey are the main threats facing felines around the world. Also road accidents in many places cause drastic declines in some species that today have very small populations. For this reason, feline species conservation projects are very important, since many of them have been key species in conservation because, by protecting these species that cover large areas, a large number of organisms, helping to conserve and maintain the different ecosystems they inhabit.
Is the ocelot endangered?
In all the countries where it is found it is protected under legal frameworks and international regulations, and in almost all of them its hunting and trafficking are prohibited. Globally, this species is categorized as " least concern", with a tendency to reduce its populations, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). So, at a global level we could say that the ocelot is not in danger of extinction, but it could become so if its population does not increase, as we will see now.
On the other hand, in Mexico, the ocelot is highly appreciated for the beauty of its fur and here it isis classified as endangered and is also found in CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) in Appendix I. The same thing happens in Uruguay, which it is also critically endangered.
In the rest of the countries in its distribution range, such as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Venezuela, it is categorized as “vulnerable” with legal protection and in Ecuador as “almost threatened”. While in other countries there is no categorization of its conservation status due to the lack of studies of the species.
In the following video we show you the 10 most endangered animals in Mexico.
Causes why the ocelot is in danger of extinction
As we have seen, although the ocelot is considered a “least concern” globally, in many countries it is considered to be in danger of extinction. This species faces threats such as habitat loss and degradation, which produces a decrease in its populations and this occurs throughout its entire range, where there is a lot of hunting and its natural forests are being replaced by commercial crops. Also, as we mentioned, the runovers on highways constitute another important ocelot threat, as well as predation and/or contagion of diseases by domestic dogs, which may constitute another threat to the species in many of the places where it lives.
Historically, the illegal fur trade was one of the main causes of the decline of their populations, and although today The demand that existed in the past does not exist, a certain illegal trade still persists. With all this information about the ocelot in danger of extinction, we can see how important conservation plans are for the species, as well as the measures that we can take individually to protect this animal.
How to help the endangered ocelot?
There are different measures we can take to protect the ocelot in danger of extinction, as well as other felines and threatened animals around the world:
- Don't buy skins. Since illegal hunting for the fur trade is one of the main causes, avoiding consuming these "products" favors the conservation of the species.
- Promote recycling by reusing all those products that can be reused and promoting sustainable purchasing in order to stop the destruction of habitats.
- Help existing associations and organizations for the conservation of species. There are volunteers that allow us to be part of these associations, so we encourage you to inform yourself if you are interested in this option.
For more information, don't miss the article in which we explain How to protect animals in danger of extinction.
