Cuddly Ocelot Kitten Calls Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Home

TUCSON, AZ — Staff at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum are celebrating a newly born Ocelot kitten as a "monumental" step forward in protecting the species and validating a method only used once before. The baby animal widely being shared on Tucson's social media Thursday was conceived using frozen semen.

The mother, a resident cat at the museum, delivered the kitten back in March as part of a program to conserve the Ocelot species. Arieta was one of two female cats anesthetized in Dec. and given the sample through laparoscopic surgery. Arieta's colleague, a cat residing at the El Paso zoo, went through the same procedure.

After 82 days, both females delivered their kittens. Arieta delivered one kitten. The female cat in El Paso delivered 4.

The Ocelot Species Survival Plan, organized under the Species Survival Plan, was created by U.S. zoos in the 1980s to raise the populations of endangered species in captivity. The Desert Museum is one of 52 zoos across the U.S. caring for the 95 Ocelots left in captivity.

The last (and first) time a female Ocelot gave birth by artificial insemination was 24 years ago, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum spokesperson Kat Rumbley said.

For now, Tucson will have to enjoy this bundle of cuteness from photos only. Staff say the baby and mama need to get be as stress-free as possible during these first few months.

Some educational facts about Ocelots:

Ocelots (Felis pardalis) are among Arizona’s rarest mammals. These medium-sized, short-haired cats are one of the 25 endangered animal and plant species that are represented in the Museum’s collection. Long term survival of a thriving and healthy ocelot population in the Sonoran Desert faces serious odds. One of the most serious concerns that threatens these cats is ongoing loss of habitat. Elusive and solitary, ocelots prefer habitats that offer dense cover (thorn scrub, live oak, and riparian areas), and the expansion of human habitat and commerce is quickly eliminating these areas.