This March, Sky Island Alliance and Phoenix Zoo published a study describing the remarkable journey of a male ocelot across four mountain ranges in the Sky Islands of Arizona, the longest-known trek by a single member of the species. This ocelot — recently named “Himdam” or “Traveler” by the San Xavier District of the Tohono O’odham Nation — covered at least 111 miles and crossed I-19, AZ-82, and AZ-83 (at least twice) as it moved among the Atascosa Highlands, Whetstone Mountains, Patagonia Mountains, and Santa Rita Mountains. It also did so in the shadow of border wall construction, mine expansion, and I-11 corridor exploration, underscoring the fragility of our region and the threats wildlife face.
One of the more fascinating aspects of this story is that the ocelot was detected in four separate ranges by four organizations, who then collaborated to tell the story. In this virtual Coffee Break, we are joined by our partners to learn more about this intrepid cat and the state of ocelot conservation in the region.
Further Resources
- Check out this blog to get the full story on the remarkable ocelot Himdam.
- Read the study published in Therya Notes tracking this ocelot’s record journey.
- Learn more about the University of Arizona Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center.
- Learn more about the Phoenix Zoo’s field conservation research.
