Salisbury, MD — The Salisbury Zoo is thrilled to announce the arrival of Dale, an eight-year-old male ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), who has joined the Zoo as part of the Ocelot Species Survival Plan (SSP). The SSP is a collaborative conservation initiative within the zoological community designed to ensure the long-term stability of animal populations under human care.
Dale was born at the Greenville Zoo in South Carolina and most recently resided at the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, Texas. He celebrated his eighth birthday on March 8, marking the occasion at his new home in Salisbury. While wild ocelots typically have a life expectancy of 7-10 years, those under professional human care can live an average of 15.5 years, with the longest recorded lifespan for a male reaching 23 years.
The Salisbury Zoo has a long history of caring for this charismatic Felidae species, dating back to 1984. Dale’s arrival comes after the Zoo’s recent transfer of its female ocelot, Anahi, to the Buffalo Zoo in New York—also a recommendation of the Ocelot SSP. Remarkably, Dale and Anahi are siblings from different litters, further strengthening the Zoo’s ties to ocelot conservation.
Ocelots are native to the southwestern United States, including Texas and Arizona, though they have been extirpated from states like Arkansas and Louisiana. Their populations continue to face significant threats, including habitat loss, fragmentation, vehicle collisions, and illegal poaching for their pelts. While some populations in South America remain stable, ocelots are considered ‘critically imperiled’ in their remaining U.S. habitats, with only an estimated 50-80 individuals left in Texas.
The Salisbury Zoo is proud to support the conservation of this species through its partnership with Ocelot SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction), a program dedicated to reestablishing wild ocelots in their historical Texas range through managed breeding efforts.
Visitors to the Zoo are encouraged to stop by Dale’s new habitat as he gets acclimated to his new surroundings. His presence not only enhances the Zoo’s ongoing conservation efforts but also provides an opportunity for guests to learn more about this elusive and endangered species.
For more information about Dale and the Zoo’s conservation initiatives, please visit https://salisburyzoo.org/ or follow us on social media.
