In the news this week (bold and link added):
In Texas, wildlife conservation is far from a simple equation. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, over 93 percent of the state is privately owned, including vital habitats for big cats. Balancing protection measures with the desires of landowners requires a deft hand.
Still, one San Antonio nonprofit is hoping it has found the right formula for ocelot recovery. The East Foundation, a local ranching operation and agricultural research organization, is proposing the Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, to support reintroducing species into the wild. A 30-day public comment period began September 15.
— Source
Of course, ocelots aren’t in Panthera (big cats), but at least one jaguar has been reported in the Southwest.
The article made me curious about the project, so I looked around and found this August 2023 video that explains it more and also includes some amazing footage of ocelots:
There are some scenes of cattle branding.
- Texas A&M: Ocelot reintroduction in Texas.
- East Foundation: Ocelot Conservation
- There is a well-documented “ocelot effect” in Latin America wherever ocelots abound — what about the bobcats and coyotes? (Jargon alert)
- Please don’t ever do this:
A young ocelot, a-bounding in Costa Rica. This video is interesting but such a bad idea in so many ways: for example, despite the sensational cover image, he’s playing with the ocelot and treating it like a housecat, which is how people get maimed or killed by wild cats; also the ocelot somehow has been desensitized to humans before this, which is bad for the ocelot and bad for any people, especially children, and their pets that the cat, if it survives into adulthood, might meet. This is the feline equivalent of howling with wolves — only cats aren’t team players.
- Cat Specialist Group page
A little lagniappe:
Did someone say “jaguar”?
“Nooooooo..!” comes echoing down from the missile base. Relax, guys. You will be standing shoulder to shoulder on all that white sand before this very leopard-like but NIMBY-limited predator can get re-established there.
Not worried about ocelots. (Image source)
Flight To Wonder 