In a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, an endangered wild animal has been spotted creeping through a desert park for the first time in half a century.
The elusive ocelot was captured on camera in southern Arizona, marking the first confirmed sighting of the species in the region in 50 years.
The rare wild cat was captured on video in June by trail cameras set up by the Phoenix Zoo's Atascosa Complex Wildlife Study in the Coronado National Forest's Nogales Ranger District.
The cameras had been placed in April as part of an ongoing wildlife study.
Ocelots, which are medium-sized wild cats native to parts of the southern US and Mexico, have been on the endangered list in the US since 1972.
Ocelots, which are medium-sized wild cats native to parts of the southern US and Mexico , have been listed as endangered in the US since 1972
The rare wild cat was captured on video in June by field cameras set up by the Phoenix Zoo's Atascosa Complex Wildlife Study in the Coronado National Forest's Nogales Ranger District
They face threats from hunting and habitat loss, making this sighting all the more significant for conservation efforts.
While ocelots are twice the size of an average house cat, they are considerably smaller than other wild cats.
According to National Geographic, these felines face threats from natural predators such as harpy eagles, pumas, jaguars, and anacondas.
Even more miraculous, the sighting almost went unnoticed if not for the eagle eyes of a researcher.
The Zoo's Field Research Project Manager, Kinley Ragan, explained the project and described the feeling when spotted the ocelot, saying it sent 'full chills' through her body as she watched in disbelief.
'This particular location required a 40-minute hike to the site as the temperature was reaching 95 degrees,' Ragan said in the zoo's press release.
'The ocelot video was one of the last videos I reviewed and sent full chills through my body at the excitement and pride in what we had recorded,' she said.
Pictured: The bleak but picturesque landscape where the Ocelot was recorded
'I was in disbelief at first, watching the video over and over again, but soon a big smile spread across my face as the full impact of this discovery for the important region set in.'
Tracy McCarthey, Regional Nongame Specialist, confirmed the finding and expressed the significance of the rare sighting.
'AZGFD has conducted a pelage spot analysis comparing this ocelot with the current known ocelot in the state, as well as previous ocelots and concludes that this is indeed a new ocelot.'
What makes this discovery particularly extraordinary is the habitat where the ocelot was found.
The cat was spotted in desert scrub at a lower elevation than most historic records of the species in Arizona, potentially indicating a shift in its range or behavior.
Zoo staff and volunteers are set to return to the field this month to retrieve additional camera data from the spring and summer seasons.
The research team aims to collect data for a full 18 months, allowing for analysis of seasonal differences in wildlife patterns.
They are hopeful to find more records of this new ocelot and other significant sightings as data analysis continues.
The elusive ocelot has been caught on camera in southern Arizona, marking the first confirmed sighting of the species in the region in 50 years
The cat was spotted in desert scrub, like the one pictured above, at a lower elevation than most historic records of the species in Arizona
The extended study period could provide crucial insights into the ocelot's behavior and habitat preferences in the region.
Bert Castro, President and CEO of the Arizona Center for Nature Conservation and Phoenix Zoo President expressed excitement about the discovery in a press release.
'Finding evidence of a new ocelot in southern Arizona reinforces our commitment to collaborative efforts to conserve wildlife and their habitats in the region,' said Castro.
'We're eager to review additional camera data from this study to see what else we can learn about species of conservation concern in the borderlands and what they need for their continued survival.'
In 2019, conservationists captured a rare look at the elusive ocelot in the Arizona wild.
In 2019, conservationists captured a rare look at the elusive ocelot in the Arizona wild
Stunning footage from remote sensor cameras showed multiple views of the wild cat nicknamed ‘Lil Jefe’ as he sipped from a creek.
The footage came at what experts said at the time was a ‘critical point’ in ocelot conservation; the striking felines have long been subject to poaching and habitat loss, and now face mounting threats from plans for a border wall between the US and Mexico.
According to the researchers, these wild animals are ‘exceedingly rare,’ and only five have been verified in Arizona since 2009.
These cats can be found in tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America, with Arizona being the northernmost territory in their range.
‘Captured by remote sensor cameras just north of the U.S.-Mexico border, this extraordinary footage provides a rare glimpse of one of North America’s most mysterious wild felines,’ Conservation CATalyst said at the time.
