Injured Ocelot Rescued in Oaxaca Released Back into the Wild

A male ocelot, found injured on March 1, has been successfully released into the wild in Oaxaca, Mexico, after a five-month rehabilitation period. The feline was discovered with a fractured jaw, a dislocated hip, and skin lacerations after being struck by a vehicle on federal highway Transístmica 185.

The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) announced the ocelot's release into the protected forest area of Parque Nacional Huatulco II. Profepa stated that the animal, estimated to be around four years old, has regained the necessary survival skills and physical condition for reintroduction into its natural habitat.

The ocelot was transferred to Fundación Invictus, an organization dedicated to wildlife conservation through rescue, rehabilitation, and relocation efforts. This organization operates on donations and plays a vital role in supporting endangered species.

The ocelot is listed as endangered under Mexico's NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 regulations and is included in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Key threats to the species include habitat loss, illegal trade for its skin, poaching, and a decline in prey populations. Profepa highlighted that the rescue and rehabilitation of such animals are essential for maintaining healthy populations and preserving their role as ecosystem regulators.