New endangered ocelot 1st spotted in Arizona in June makes 2nd appearance

PHOENIX — It’s a good week to be an animal lover in Arizona, especially if you’re passionate about ocelots.

A recently discovered member of the endangered species made another appearance in July of this year.

The Center for Biological Diversity confirmed on Thursday that the ocelot in the newly released trail camera footage is the same wildcat that was discovered in June.

They can tell this because these wildcats are known for their distinctive rosettes and spots, which are as unique as human fingerprints.

The news was joyous for wildlife experts like Russ McSpadden, a Southwest conservation advocate at the center.

“I shouted with joy when I realized what I was seeing on the trail cam,” McSpadden said in a Thursday news release.

Why is this second ocelot sighting good news for animal conservation in Arizona?

The Arizona Center for Nature Conservation, which operates the Phoenix Zoo, first told the public about the ocelot’s appearance west of Nogales.

It was big because because it marked the first confirmed sighting of the endangered species in the Atascosa Highlands area of southeastern Arizona in around 50 years. This mountain range in Santa Cruz County is around 5 miles north of the Arizona-Mexico border.

Now that the center confirmed the cat seen in July is the same as the cat they discovered in June, wildlife officials said the cat traveled 30 miles between the two times he or she was filmed.

The new video footage the center released on Thursday shows the wildcat in the Sky Island mountain range in southern Arizona. These mountain ranges can reach elevations as high as 10,000 feet.

This area is within the ancestral homelands of the Tohono O’odham Nation.

Chairman Austin Nunez of the San Xavier District of the Tohono O’odham Nation expressed wonder over the second sighting of the new member of the endangered species.

“The Sky Island Mountains are not just beautiful landscapes; they are living parts of our culture and identity,” Nunez said in the release. “Seeing the return of an ocelot to these ancestral lands reaffirms our sacred connection to this place and reminds us of our duty to protect these lands and the creatures that depend on them.”

Details about the exact location are being kept a secret for the ocelot’s safety.

“The ocelot’s survival is intertwined with ours, and we must ensure that this species endures for future generations,” Nunez said.

Why are these unique wildcats endangered?

Wildlife experts think fewer than 100 ocelots live in the U.S. Most live in southern Texas, although Arizona is home to a small population.

Although the animal was originally hunted for its coat, more recently its numbers have dwindled due to disease, inbreeding and habitat loss.

Human activities on the U.S.-Mexico border have also threatened the animals due to immigration, drug trafficking, border installations and the presence of police and military forces. They’re one of many trans-border animals whose presence would be threatened if a border wall were to be erected between the southern U.S. border, according to Defenders of Wildlife.

Furthermore, farmers and developers have significantly reduced the animals’ habitat, exacerbating their endangered status. In fact, 95% of the wildcats’ thorn scrub habitats have been cleared by land development, according to WildEarth Guardians.

This leaves the cats with nowhere to go.

Additionally, ocelots are often killed while crossing roads, which makes this particular wildcat’s journey so significant. To get to the mountain range, the ocelot crossed the Santa Cruz River, crossed the Interstate 19 and moved into the mountain ranges.

“This incredible footage shows us that ocelots belong in our Sky Islands, despite all the threats they face,” McSpadden said. “These elegant, elusive and fiercely resilient felines are an important part of what makes southern Arizona so special. Capturing footage of this cat in the wild gives me hope for their survival.”