tags: Ocelot, Leopardus pardalis, Joel Sartore, National Geographic, image of the day
Ocelot, Leopardus pardalis.
195 animals remaining (Estimated U.S. population is fewer than 100 wild, 95 captive).
Image: Joel Sartore/National Geographic [larger view].
The photographer writes;
Wild ocelots are gone from all U.S. states except Texas, driven out by human development. The elusive cats still roam the wilds of Central and South America, but there's little reliable data on their true numbers.
Joel Sartore has shared some of his work on this blog before, so I am thrilled to tell you that National Geographic also appreciates his exemplary work. You can view more endangered animals of the United States that were photographed by the talented Joel Sartore here at National Geographic online. All images appear here by permission of National Geographic online.
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Comments
Those eyes.
Posted by: Lilian Nattel | January 24, 2009 4:23 PM
What a beautiful cat, I never knew there were any in TX. Hopefully conservation efforts will prevail.
Posted by: Amanda | January 24, 2009 11:03 PM
I thought there were a few left in Arizona. Of course, the ones I saw there were in captivity; wouldn't be surprised if the wild ones were extirpated.
I had high hopes of seeing one when I was in Panama, but they don't come when called ....
Posted by: Julie Stahlhut | January 25, 2009 12:12 AM
Thank you for featuring this gallery of endangered species. This photo on your blog of the ocelot caught my son's eye, and he insisted on clicking through the entire gallery.
Posted by: Marilyn Terrell | January 25, 2009 1:55 AM
A beautiful cat.
Posted by: Art | January 25, 2009 4:34 AM