17 Nov Ocelots in Panama
By Natalie Warner
Did you know that Panama’s Barro Colorado Island has one of the densest populations of ocelots in the world? The name ocelot comes from the Aztec word tlalocelot, meaning field tiger. They were worshiped by Moche people of ancient Peru and often depicted in their art.
Ocelots have an orange, tan, and white coat with dark markings. These markings are unique to each ocelot. The right and left side patterns of the ocelot’s coat are not symmetrical. They typically weigh between 10-15kg (14-34lbs) and can grow up to 100 cm (39 in), not including the tail, which can be an additional 45cm (18 in). Males are bigger than females. Their average lifespan is 14 years.
Despite being nicknamed painted leopards or dwarf leopards, they are actually distant cousins and are in different subfamilies. Their appearance is similar to another common Panamanian feline, the margay. Margays are smaller and typically spend more time in trees compared to ocelots.
Habitat
They can be found throughout the Americas in a variety of habitats. Although becoming a rare sight, they have been spotted around Southern Arizona and Texas, USA and span down to Argentina. Ocelots live in a variety of biomes including costal marshes, savanna grasslands, and rainforests. Ocelots are the second largest spotted cat in South America, after the jaguar.
Behavior
Ocelots are solitary animals and do not live in packs. These animals, especially males, are territorial. Male ocelots keep territories, which overlap 3-5 females and can range from 4-90km (2.4-56mi). Females’ territories range from about 1-75km (0.6-46.6mi). Common ways of marking territory include spraying vegetation with urine and scratching trees.
These are very communicative animals. It is demonstrated with body language, markings, and vocalizations. Ocelots do not roar. They chuckle when they’re excited. An arched back with stiff legs and a tail straight down is a sign of aggression.
Baby Ocelots
Females can have up to 4 babies (kittens) at a time. Kittens are born with spots and a grey coat. They weigh between 200-340 grams (7-12 ounces) and do not open their eyes until they are 3 weeks old. Kittens typically start hunting by themselves at 8 months; most stay with their mother for the first 2 years of their life.
Diet
Ocelots are nocturnal and primarily hunt at night. An ocelot’s diet is diverse. They have been known to eat crabs, iguanas, and rodents. Ocelots in Panama often eat agoutis, a rodent native to Central America. Ocelots do not let much go to waste. They bury their uneaten food and come back for it later.
Aguouti
Predators
Natural predators include larger cats, boa constrictors, and harpy eagles. Humans are an ocelot’s biggest threat. Deforestation, poaching, illegal pet trade, and revenge killing for attacks on poultry are common threats by humans. Recently on three separate occasions three ocelots were killed on the Panamerican Highway while trying to cross.
Salvador Dali was famous for having a pet ocelot name Balou. Aspire to paint like Salvador Dali; avoid following in his choice of pets.
Conservation Status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has ranked ocelots as “least concern” for animal protection status. This is due to the wide distribution of where ocelots live. They are considered endangered in Arizona, Texas, and Mexico. Ocelots are vulnerable around the Amazon Basin.
Barro Colorado Island
Barro Colorado Island is a nature reserve created after the Gatun Lake flooding. This is the location of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), where a variety of biological disciplines come to study this relatively unaltered area.
The island is 15.6km2 (6mi2) and has one of the most dense ocelot populations. Estimates suggest that there are 1.59-1.74 ocelots every km (0.6 mi). This is 1.6 times higher on the island than the densest reported populations of northwestern Amazon of Peru.
One theory for the high density of ocelots is due to lack of predators. Natural predators including jaguars occasionally swim to the island but do not stay for great lengths of time. Ocelots are the apex animal and have little competition for food resources.
Barro Colorado Island is not the only place to see an ocelot. Ocelots can be found throughout Panama’s forests. They are often seen La Amistad and Darién parks. Walkers around Soberanía National Park have also been known to come across ocelots.
Ocelots are beautiful wild cats that live throughout the Americas in a variety of habitats. Panama is one place they call home.