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    Photos via SINAC
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Published on
Thursday, September 12, 2024
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Park rangers from
Alajuela Province's Arenal Conservation
Zone rescued a wounded ocelot (Leopardus
pardalis) found in La Fortuna District, San Carlos
Canton. According to the
National System of Conservation Areas
(Sinac), the state-owned agency in charge of managing all
national parks and protected areas, park
rangers received a 911 call on Wednesday
reporting a young male wild cat
wandering along the street looking for
food. Rangers, police
officers, and firefighters found the
ocelot near the Venado Community local
park. The wild
cat was injured, weak and in poor
physical condition. The ocelot was
taken to the SINAC Wildlife Rescue
Center in Alajuela, where it was
examined by veterinarians and received
medical care. When encountering
wild cats, experts recommend providing
an escape path, staying calm but making
loud noises, putting children on your
shoulders, never kneeling, and calling
911 immediately.
Their size ranges from 28 to 35 inches and a tail length of about 12 to 18 inches. They typically weigh between 15 to 33 pounds (7 to 15 kilograms). The wild cats have a distinctive coat with a yellow or tawny background covered in both solid and open rosette patterns. The coat helps them blend into various habitats. These amazing cats are primarily nocturnal, meaning they are most active during the night. Their keen sense of sight and hearing helps them navigate and hunt in low light conditions. Ocelots are carnivores and have a diverse diet that includes small mammals, birds, reptiles, and sometimes fish. They are skilled hunters and use their agility and sharp claws to catch prey. They are highly adaptable and can thrive in different environments. The wild cats are found in a variety of habitats, including tropical rainforests, mangrove swamps, grasslands and thorn scrub. In Costa Rica, a large number of specimens have been witnessed in wild areas such as National Parks and the Talamanca Mountain Range.
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