Rare ocelot sighted in Arizona for the first time in decades

Amazement in Arizona, where camera traps installed in a forest between mountain ranges filmed the passage of an ocelot. The feline is classified as endangered in the United States

An extraordinary discovery has taken place in Arizona, where a rare ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) has been spotted in the wild in the Atascosa Highlands. This marks the first sighting in this region in decades.

The ocelot was captured on camera by trail cameras set up in the Coronado National Forest in southern Arizona. This area is part of a wildlife monitoring project led by researchers from the Phoenix Zoo and other institutions, under a permit from the US Forest Service.

50 trail cameras installed for wildlife monitoring

In April 2024, 50 trail cameras were installed to gather data on the wildlife inhabiting these lands. In July, two team members visited the study area to ensure the cameras were functioning correctly.

They examined 23 cameras, replacing batteries and reviewing the captured images. Their excitement was palpable when they realized that one of the cameras had recorded an ocelot passing by in June.

“I was in disbelief at first, watching the video over and over, but soon a huge smile spread across my face. I got chills from the excitement and pride in what we had recorded,” recounted Kinley Ragan, the research project leader.

Species identification confirmed

The Arizona Game and Fish Department confirmed the species identification by comparing the small feline’s fur with that of another known ocelot in Arizona. The department concluded that this was indeed a new ocelot.

This is an extraordinary event for a species classified as endangered in the United States. The ocelot is a small wild cat commonly found in Central and South America, as well as in Mexico, but in the U.S., it struggles to survive mainly in Texas.

Ocelot sightings in Arizona are rare

Ocelots have been spotted sporadically in Arizona. This is further supported by a study conducted last year in the same area, which ended without any ocelot sightings.

Researchers plan to continue monitoring this new ocelot and collect environmental DNA samples in the area.

Monitoring in the wild can provide scientists with new clues about the presence of ocelots in Arizona, enhancing knowledge about the species and aiding in its conservation. Who knows, there may be more surprises in the coming months.