The role of unprotected and privately protected areas for ocelot conservation: densities in Colombia and Brazil

The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is a widely distributed, medium-sized felid in the Americas with declining population size. We estimated ocelot densities and home ranges in one agricultural area in the Magdalena River valley in Colombia, a private reserve and cattle ranch in the Colombian Llanos, and a private reserve in the Serra do Amolar in the Brazilian Pantanal. We used camera trapping (39-52 stations) and spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) models. Density estimates (individuals/100 km(2)) were 11.0 +/- 2.7 (SE) in the Magdalena River valley; 13.2 +/- 3.2 (SE) in the Llanos, and 10.3 +/- 2.9 (SE) in the Serra do Amolar. Overall, despite an impact of agriculture and human disturbance, our results highlight the importance of unprotected areas and privately protected ranching areas for ocelot conservation. As agriculture continues to expand across the tropics causing habitat loss, and negatively affecting ocelot densities, we recommend land use planning and best agricultural practices to maintain natural habitats, thereby limiting human impacts on ocelot conservation.