Ocelot Activity and Predation Patterns Revealed in Yasuni National Park Mineral Licks

A comprehensive study utilizing camera trapping technology within the biodiverse Yasuni National Park in Ecuador has provided crucial insights into the activity patterns and predatory behaviors of the ocelot, *Leopardus pardalis*. This research, conducted across ten distinct mineral licks in the northern sector of the protected area between January 2018 and December 2019, offers novel data contributing significantly to the understanding of the trophic ecology of this elusive feline.

The ocelot, a solitary and highly elusive member of the Felidae family, possesses a wide distribution spanning from southern North America to northern Argentina and Uruguay. This species is adaptable, occupying various ecosystems such as humid tropical forests, tropical dry forests, and areas ranging from sea level to 3000 meters above sea level. Physically, the ocelot can reach up to 80 cm in head-and-body length and weigh up to 10 kg, characterized by its robust, rounded head, convex snout, and light yellow fur marked with black spots. Ecologically, it is categorized as an opportunistic predator, meaning its diet is highly varied. While it primarily consumes small nocturnal terrestrial mammals, especially rodents, its feeding habits also encompass birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and insects, with reports indicating it may occasionally capture medium to large mammals.

The study specifically focused on the use of mineral licks, which are areas where rainwater accumulates and the soil is exceptionally rich in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium. These licks are known to attract various wildlife, including bats and insects, which constitute regular prey for the ocelot. While the ocelot typically prefers dense forest vegetation, it is known to explore open sites like mineral licks. The research team deployed a photo-trapping station at each of the ten sampled mineral licks. Each station was equipped with a Bushnell Trophy Cam HD Aggressor camera, installed approximately 0.75 meters above the ground and oriented toward areas showing evidence of wildlife activity. These camera traps were programmed to capture three photographs and a 15-second video at 60-second intervals whenever motion or temperature sensors detected an animal, remaining active for at least 30 days.

The analysis of the collected data, which spanned a total sampling effort of 567 days per trap, yielded 22 independent records across 74 photographs and 21 videos, with the ocelot appearing in five of the ten mineral lick studies. The activity pattern analysis, divided into daytime (07:00–17:00 h), night (19:00–05:00 h), morning twilight (05:00–07:00 h), and evening twilight (17:00–19:00 h), revealed a strong nocturnal preference. Furthermore, the activity showed mild presence during the morning hours, accounting for 13.6% of records, while activity generally decreased as morning twilight approached and increased during the evening twilight.

The predatory behaviors observed during the study provided specific examples of the ocelot’s hunting prowess. On June 25, 2018, at 04:38 h, an image captured the ocelot in a stalking position in the foreground, with a red deer (*Mazama americana*) visible in the background of the mineral lick. Detailed review of the photographic and video sequences confirmed the stalking behavior, but no actual attack was recorded in this instance. This observation aligns with the understanding that the ocelot is likely to utilize these mineral licks to stalk deer species, such as *Mazama americana* and *Mazama nemorivaga*, which frequently visit these sites.

Another documented predatory interaction occurred on November 7, 2019, at 19:48 h. A video captured the ocelot stealthily moving in a stalking position toward an anuran, or frog or toad, located within the mineral licks. Although the ocelot hastened its movement to attempt a capture, the attempt was unsuccessful, as the amphibian managed to escape upon noticing the feline’s presence.

The most definitive predation event recorded took place on November 13, 2019, at 20:37 h. In this instance, a 15-second video captured the ocelot successfully capturing a bat mid-flight. The video also indicated the possible presence of an amphibian or reptile near the ocelot. The capture occurred under conditions influenced by a waning gibbous moon. The feline, positioned on a rock, drove toward the group of bats in flight, successfully catching one with its snout before locating a firm surface to consume the prey. Following the capture of the individual bat, the remaining group immediately dispersed.

These findings underscore the critical ecological role of mineral licks for the ocelot, which serves a dual purpose: a hunting ground and a likely source of essential minerals. The ocelot’s diet, while primarily composed of small nocturnal mammals and amphibians, extends to bats, affirming its broad opportunistic nature. Furthermore, the ocelot likely visits these sites to ingest soil rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, and manganese. This geophagy is crucial for compensating for nutritional deficits in its regular diet and for regulating or eliminating excess toxins. The ability to hunt in these open, mineral-rich areas may also allow the ocelot to engage in hunting with relatively low energy expenditure, as these sites naturally aggregate prey.

In conclusion, the camera trapping study in Yasuni National Park successfully documented the complex behavioral repertoire of *Leopardus pardalis*. By observing the ocelot’s activity patterns—which are strongly skewed toward the night and early morning—and recording specific predatory events, the research provides valuable evidence of the importance of mineral licks. These sites function not only as crucial foraging locations for prey species but also as vital ecological hubs where the ocelot can fulfill its nutritional needs, both through successful predation and through the ingestion of necessary minerals, thereby illuminating key interactions within the ecosystem.

Subject of Research: Ocelot activity and predatory behavior in Yasuni National Park mineral licks

Article Title: Activity pattern and predatory behaviour of the ocelot ( Leopardus pardalis ) ( Carnivora , Felidae ) in mineral licks of the Yasuni National Park, Ecuador

Article References: Macas-Pogo, P., Mejía Valenzuela, E., & Arévalo-Serrano, G. (2023). Activity pattern and predatory behaviour of the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) (Carnivora, Felidae) in mineral licks of the Yasuni National Park, Ecuador. Neotropical Biology and Conservation, 18(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.18.e95027

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e95027

Keywords: Ocelot, Leopardus pardalis, Yasuni National Park, Predation, Mineral Licks, Neotropical Ecology, Carnivora, Camera Trapping, Activity, pattern, predatory, behaviour