Endangered Ocelot Caught on Camera in Arizona Wilderness After 50 Years

A rare ocelot, an endangered wild cat, was captured on film in Arizona for the first time in 50 years. The sighting took place in the Atascosa Mountains, where a field camera recorded the cat creeping through the area. The ocelot, which is twice the size of a typical house cat, paused and looked directly into the camera with shining eyes. The footage, taken in June, was only discovered recently when the Phoenix Zoo’s Atascosa Complex Wildlife Study reviewed the material.

Kinley Ragan, the field research project manager, described the moment as a thrilling discovery. She recalled watching the video over and over in disbelief before a big smile spread across her face. The significance of the sighting began to set in as she realized how important this discovery was for the region. The video represented the first confirmed sighting of an ocelot in the Atascosa Highlands region in at least half a century.

The finding was verified by an Arizona Game and Fish Department specialist. Ocelots have been listed as endangered in the U.S. since 1972 and are rarely seen in Arizona, where their population is sporadic. Their survival is threatened by habitat fragmentation and loss, as these cats rely on dense forests and grasslands for shelter and sustenance.

With this exciting discovery, zoo staff and volunteers plan to continue their research efforts. They are scheduled to return to the field in the coming months to collect additional footage from spring and summer, as well as records of wildlife activity in the fall. The team is particularly hopeful that this discovery will provide more insights into the local wildlife.

Originally, the researchers had intended to remove their cameras in October. However, due to the importance of this recent finding, they hope to extend their wildlife study for an additional year to continue monitoring the ocelot and other wildlife in the area. This extension will provide more opportunities to observe and document the movements and behaviors of endangered species like the ocelot.