Support requested for the Ocelot

[hyphenate]

This from one of my mailing lists. Passing it on if anyone can contribute
__________________________________________________________________

My name is Linda Laack, Wildlife
Scientist at Environmental Defense Fund.

I have spent my career, more than 20 years, trying to save the
ocelot. I am more hopeful now than ever before that our
innovative plan -- which Fred Krupp outlines below -- can put
these amazing creatures on the road to recovery.

This work means so much to me, I asked Fred if I could send you
a short note letting you know that my work depends on the
support of people like you.

And, the annual summer match campaign deadline has been
extended. Your gift will be tripled with a $2-for-$1 matching
gift through July 15th:

https://donate.environmentaldefense.org/01/jcx08bb101/nopqGAFsqXnmA?

Please take a moment and learn about our plan to bring these
spectacular cats back from the brink.

Thank you in advance for your help,
Linda Laack, Wildlife Scientist

********************************
You can help save America's "little leopard" -- the ocelot.

Donate now -- and your gift will be tripled with a $2-for-$1
matching gift through July 15th: https://donate.environmentaldefense.org/01/jcx08bb101/nopqGAFsqXnmA?
********************************

Ocelots once roamed throughout Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and
Arkansas.

Over the last century, farms, ranches and suburban sprawl have
chipped away the ocelots' historic habitat to almost nothing.
The surviving cats -- numbering fewer than 100 -- are stranded
in tiny pockets of scrublands in south Texas.

With the help of Environmental Defense Fund Wildlife Scientist
Linda Laack, we have developed a strategy to restore and connect
ocelot habitat -- a plan that will help bring ocelots back from
the brink of extinction.

And today, we have great news. A generous donor has agreed to
extend the $2-for-$1 matching gift opportunity until July
15th.

Make a gift today and your support for ocelots will be tripled:
https://donate.environmentaldefense.org/01/jcx08bb101/nopqGAFsqXnmA?

The Strategy

We must connect existing ocelot populations and provide habitat
where they can live and raise their young. Enter in the SAFE
program.

SAFE stands for "State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement." Through
this innovative program, we will provide rental payments to
landowners who take low quality farmland and restore it to
wildlife habitat.

We have already restored about 830 acres, but we have a long way
to go. Our ambitious near-term goal through SAFE is to restore
an additional 5,000 acres of habitat.

Why 5,000 acres?

The tiny fraction of ocelot habitat that remains is largely
fragmented, leaving most ocelots stranded on the Laguna Atascosa
National Wildlife Refuge and on a handful of nearby private
lands.

Because the ocelots are found in such small and isolated groups,
they tend to inbreed, making them increasingly vulnerable to
extinction.

The 5,000 acres we plan to restore will expand new ocelot
habitat adjacent to the Refuge and create corridors to connect
fragmented populations. This will help the cats breed and
provide new areas for them to raise future generations.

Make a gift today to help restore strategically located ocelot
habitat: https://donate.environmentaldefense.org/01/jcx08bb101/nopqGAFsqXnmA?.

And, from now until July 15th a generous donor will triple your
donation with a $2-for-$1 matching gift.

In addition to our work restoring ocelot habitat, we are also
helping increase the genetic variability in the Texas
population. A project funded by Environmental Defense Fund used
motion sensor cameras to find a small, but healthy population of
ocelots in Mexico.

With your support today, we can work with partners to relocate a
few of the Mexican ocelots to the Texas population -
strengthening the genetic pool.

There is hope for ocelots. With your support we will continue
our innovative collaboration with landowners and government
agencies to protect these amazing cats.

https://donate.environmentaldefense.org/01/jcx08bb101/nopqGAFsqXnmA?

Thanks for your help,
Fred Krupp
President
Environmental Defense Fund

P.S. Please make a gift by July 15th so we can take advantage of
this $2-for-$1 matching gift opportunity: https://donate.environmentaldefense.org/01/jcx08bb101/nopqGAFsqXnmA?

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[rpannier]

1. Donated a few days ago

Recommend because this is an important issue.

Wish I had thought to post here.

Thanks for thinking of it.

[hyphenate]

8. No problem

I try to remember when I get an important animal/environmental issue in the mail. There are so many animal lovers at DU that I know someone can help out more than I can right now. :)

[begin_within]

2. And, the fence the DHS wants to build will ruin their habitat in TX and the southwest!

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/cats/captive/ocelots.htm

Thank you for starting this thread - this is a very important issue!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. I'm in!

[Olney Blue]

4. I thought this post was about you, my friend!

:hi:

[wellstone dem]

5. I opened this post all ready to defend you.

Oh, never mind.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. Thanks. I think the little furry ones need it more than I do, though...

:hi:

I love ocelots.

[a la izquierda]

7. Donated!

I've never seen one in Oklahoma, but a friend spied one peering in his back door. The little guy was checking out his dog.
I'll save a wild kitty, since I can't own cats (allergies).

Good luck, ocelotl.