Photo courtesy of Ben Masters
In the United States today, the only known breeding populations live in South Texas, distantly isolated from larger populations across the border in Mexico. Approximately 80% of the known ocelots in Texas live on private lands. Together with research partners, landowners are collecting data to help design recovery strategies. The recovery of the ocelot largely depends on private land stewardship and collaboration with state and federal wildlife agencies to expand the home range and breeding population of this secretive and beautiful wild cat.
Your gift will promote ocelot conservation in Texas by supporting the work of private landowners and public agencies working in partnership for ocelot recovery. These efforts will help increase ocelot populations in Texas by improving their genetic diversity and protecting them from natural threats such as disease, wildfires, droughts, and hurricanes.
Until now, a missing component of ocelot research and conservation efforts has been having a facility designed to study ocelot reproduction, behavior, and physiology. When construction is completed in early summer 2026, the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Ocelot Conservation Facility will provide solutions to several needs for ocelot conservation and recovery throughout South Texas. The facility will provide the knowledge and capacity for researchers to produce ocelots for reintroduction and to understand the intricacies of ocelot behavior and health. Read more about the Facility here.
The Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute is the leading wildlife research organization in Texas and one of the finest in the nation. Its mission is to provide science-based information for enhancing the conservation and management of Texas wildlife. Through your gift to The Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, the Institute, along with partner organizations, will provide unique and relevant expertise in wildlife science and conservation to support ocelot recovery.
Thank you for championing ocelot recovery and supporting its future.
Together, we can conserve the wildlife
and wild places in our home.