Woodland Park Zoo's Ocelot Kittens Are Awaiting Your Visit

By Rebecca Whitham 

Seattle, WA - A pair of female ocelot kittens made their first public appearance on Thursday, February 12 at Woodland Park Zoo. The twins were born at the zoo on September 23, 2008.

The kittens, named Novia and Corisandra, represent the first offspring for mother Bella, 7 years old, and father Brazil, 12 years old. At a weigh-in two weeks ago, Corisandra was 6.1 pounds and Novia 4.7 pounds.

Zoo-goers may find the mother and kittens in the award-winning Tropical Rain Forest exhibit. Viewing hours may vary as the young cats adjust to their new surroundings.

The mother and kittens have remained off public exhibit since birth to allow for continued nursing and bonding in a quiet environment. In preparation for the kittens’ move to the public exhibit, zookeepers have helped promote the necessary motor and exploratory skills for proper growth and development through off-exhibit climbing structures and a variety of enrichment activities.

INFO: The birth, a rare occurrence in zoos, is part of the Ocelot Species Survival Plan (SSP). SSPs are cooperative breeding programs that work to ensure genetic diversity and demographic stability in North American zoos and aquariums. There are currently 95 ocelots in North American zoos.

Local community members Diane and Steve Trafton helped advance the zoo’s role in the Ocelot SSP by providing financial support for the acquisition of the mother ocelot, for modifications of the exhibit, and to help make a difference in the preservation of endangered species.

Ocelots are an endangered species. The small spotted cats range throughout Mexico, Central and South America to northern Argentina, with remnant populations in the southwestern United States. The secretive, nocturnal cats are three to four times the size

of an average domestic house cat, weighing on average 24-35 pounds and averaging 2½-5 feet in length. They may be found in several different kinds of habitats, from jungle areas and tropical rain forests to dry scrub and chaparral zones. Ocelots continue to lose ground with their ever-shrinking habitat and black market pet trade. Today, only about 100 are thought to remain in the U.S.

The Ocelot SSP is among 39 Species Survival Plans that Woodland Park Zoo participates in, including the western lowland gorilla, Humboldt penguin, Komodo dragon and red panda. Under the auspices of AZA, SSPs also involve a variety of other collaborative conservation activities such as research, public education, reintroduction and field projects.

Winter hours: 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. daily. Winter admission: Adult (13-64) $11; Child (3-12) $8; Toddler (0-2) free. Seniors (65+) and people with disabilities receive a discount and zoo members receive free zoo admission year round. Parking: $5.

For more information or to become a zoo member, call 206.548.2500 or 206.548.2599 (TTY), or visit the zoo’s website at www.zoo.org.

Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), award-winning Woodland Park Zoo is famed for pioneering naturalistic exhibits and setting international standards for zoos all over the world. Conservation, education and excellent animal care are at the core of the zoo’s mission. The zoo helps save animals and their habitats in Washington state and around the world including tree kangaroos, snow leopards, red-crowned cranes, African wild dogs, western pond turtles and Oregon silverspot butterflies. By inspiring people to care and act, Woodland Park Zoo makes a difference in our planet’s future.

601 North 59th Street * Seattle, Washington 98103, USA * 206-548-2500 * 206-548-1536 * TTY 206-548-2599 * www.zoo.org

Photo credit: Dennis Dow