The Saint Louis Zoo is thrilled to welcome Zuko, an 11-month-old male ocelot! The young feline comes to St. Louis from Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited institution.
Animal Care staff are giving Zuko plenty of space behind the scenes while he adjusts to his new home. When he’s ready, Zuko will debut in Big Cat Country later this spring.
“It has been over 55 years since ocelots have lived at the Zoo,” said Julie Hartell-DeNardo, Saint Louis Zoo Kevin Beckmann Curator of Carnivores. “We're excited to bring this one-of-a-kind species back to St. Louis.”
Known for their striking spotted coat, ocelots (leopardus pardalis) are a feline species native to the Americas. Though they are considered common in parts of Central and South America, ocelots are the most imperiled wild cat native to the U.S. Fewer than 120 wild individuals remain in two isolated populations in southern Texas. Habitat loss, vehicle strikes and limited genetic diversity are primary threats in this region, where the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared ocelots endangered in 2016.
The Saint Louis Zoo is a proud member of the AZA Ocelot Species Survival Plan (SSP) which works to ensure a healthy and genetically diverse population of ocelots in North American zoos.
Follow the Saint Louis Zoo on social media for more ocelot updates as Zuko gets ready to explore his public habitat. This ocelot will be out to play very soon!
