SALISBURY ZOO WELCOMES NEW OCELOT, DALE

Salisbury, MD - Exciting news for wildlife enthusiasts as the Salisbury Zoo announces the recent arrival of Dale, an eight-year-old male ocelot hailing from the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, Texas.

Dale is now part of a far-reaching effort known as the Ocelot Species Survival Plan (SSP). This initiative, conducted within the zoological community, has been designed with the objective of ensuring the long-term survival of certain animal populations under human care.

Born in South Carolina's Greenville Zoo, Dale celebrated his eighth birthday on March 8 in his new Salisbury home.

It is noteworthy that while ocelots in the wild have a typical lifespan of 7-10 years, those under professional care can live up to an average of 15.5 years, with the record for a male ocelot standing at 23 years.

The Salisbury Zoo is no stranger to these intriguing Felidae; it has been caring for the species since 1984. Dale's arrival comes after his sister Anahi's recent transfer from Salisbury to the Buffalo Zoo in New York, per the recommendations of the Ocelot SSP. This brother-sister duo's shared history further anchors the Zoo's commitment to ocelot conservation.

These beautiful cats are native to parts of the southwestern United States, but they have been driven out from several states. Currently, they are critically imperiled in their home habitats, with a population of merely 50-80 remaining in Texas.

Their survival is threatened by factors such as habitat destruction, isolation due to fragmentation, vehicular collisions, and illegal poaching for their fur.

The Salisbury Zoo actively supports the conservation of ocelots, partnering with Ocelot SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction). This initiative is focused on reintroducing wild ocelots to their historical stomping grounds in Texas through managed breeding efforts.

Zoo visitors are warmly invited to visit Dale's new habitat and learn more about this incredible and yet endangered animal. Dale's arrival is a testament to the Zoo's dedication to ongoing conservation efforts and serves as an educational platform for visitors.

For more about Dale and the various conservation programs at the Salisbury Zoo, visit https://salisburyzoo.org/ or follow them on social media.