AssetID: 53213847
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Texas Ocelots Get A Boost From Rewilding Programme
Caption: Ocelots are set to make a comeback in Texas due to a new rewilding initiative. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) are leading the efforts to help the Texas ocelot shake off its endangered status. The Texas ocelot population faces a critical situation, with only 60 to 80 remaining in fragmented habitats near the southern Mexican border. To aid in species recovery, the Cincinnati Zoo and three partner zoos (Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Gardens, San Antonio Zoo, Audubon Zoo) have initiated a Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program for ocelots under AZA guidance. “SAFE Ocelot will provide a potential lifeline to Texas ocelots by broadening their genetic diversity, increasing their numbers and supporting their recovery in the wild,” stated Dan Ashe, AZA’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “For other endangered native species like black-footed ferrets, California condors and Mexican wolves, animals managed under human care have been vital for population recovery and the same may hold true for America’s last wild ocelots”. The recovery program, SAFE Ocelot, operates in collaboration with various stakeholders, including the East Foundation, Texas A&M University, Duquesne University, United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. As part of the initiative, construction of a specialised breeding and rewilding facility for ocelots is set to commence soon in South Texas, with funding provided by private donors. Once completed, SAFE Ocelot will coordinate the transfer of ocelots from zoos, offering guidance on husbandry and reproductive management to optimize breeding with native Texas ocelots. The AZA’s Ocelot Species Survival Plan (SSP), overseen by Cincinnati Zoo’s Laura Carpenter, currently manages 64 (non-Texas) ocelots in 40 zoos, forming a key part of the source breeding population. Offspring, after adapting to predatory living in the rewilding facility, will eventually be released onto a vast East Foundation ranch property within the historical natural range of Texas ocelots. “The knowledge and expertise of zoo curators, keepers, veterinarians, and scientists are essential for the successful propagation of ocelots under human care for this recovery program,” highlighted Dr. Bill Swanson, the SAFE Ocelot Program Leader at the Cincinnati Zoo. “Zoos have been breeding and managing ocelots for over 20 years within the Ocelot SSP, and that experience has created the framework to apply similar approaches to support Texas ocelot recovery.” Two crucial steps have been taken recently to ensure the success of the recovery program. Firstly, the East Foundation has submitted a Safe Harbor Agreement (SHA) proposal to the USFWS, aiming to allow ocelots' release onto East Foundation lands without federal restrictions on ranching or agricultural practices. Secondly, Texas A&M University-Kingsville has been awarded a multi-year, $12.2 million contract by USFWS for ocelot recovery efforts, with some funding directed to the Cincinnati Zoo, East Foundation, and Texas A&M University Natural Resources Institute. These funds will support improvements to ocelot breeding facilities, genetic assessment of the source population, and the application of assisted reproductive sciences to ocelot propagation.
Keywords: ocelot,rewilding,big cats,feline,zoo,feature,natural world,animals
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