Tragic Loss of Ocelot May Still Bring Hope for Future

[UngulateNerd92]

Thanks to the efforts of scientists and veterinarians in multiple states and facilities, the death of a wild Texas ocelot may someday spark new life.

This month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Gladys Porter Zoo, and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW), worked together to collect valuable genetic material from an ocelot that was hit by a car at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in South Texas. The genetic material – a high quality semen sample –has the potential to bolster captive-bred populations managed in zoos by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Ocelot Species Survival Plan. The sample will be used for artificial insemination of a captive female. Such reproductive technologies are also being considered for use in the conservation of wild Texas ocelots in the near future.

Tragic Loss of Ocelot May Still Bring Hope for Future

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Thanks to the efforts of scientists and veterinarians in multiple states and facilities, the death of a wild Texas ocelot may someday spark new life.

This month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Gladys Porter Zoo, and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW), worked together to collect valuable genetic material from an ocelot that was hit by a car at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in South Texas. The genetic material – a high quality semen sample –has the potential to bolster captive-bred populations managed in zoos by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Ocelot Species Survival Plan. The sample will be used for artificial insemination of a captive female. Such reproductive technologies are also being considered for use in the conservation of wild Texas ocelots in the near future.

Tragic Loss of Ocelot May Still Bring Hope for Future

Which US zoo maintains Texas ocelot?

What subspecies are Texan ocelot assigned to? Any connection with non US ocelot same subspecies? With only 17 alive is it not high time for an ex situ program?

 

[UngulateNerd92]

Which US zoo maintains Texas ocelot?

What subspecies are Texan ocelot assigned to? Any connection with non US ocelot same subspecies? With only 17 alive is it not high time for an ex situ program?

Unfortunately no US zoos keep them. What do you mean not high time? I will say that I do personally believe that the Texas ocelot (Leopardus pardalis albescens) does need a captive insurance population.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Unfortunately no US zoos keep them. What do you mean not high time? I will say that I do personally believe that the Texas ocelot (Leopardus pardalis albescens) does need a captive insurance population.

Allright, I mean that it IS HIGH TIME for an ex situ program.

Do we know how large the population of L. p. albescens could be on the Mexican side of the border. I would be inclined to think that Brownsville Gladys Porter Zoo would be the prime candidate for starting a Regional program for Texas ocelot (and jaguar ... with Phoenix - Albuquerque and San Antonio and El Paso's zoos amongst others).