Our country can be regarded as a "big cat country". Among the 40 species of cats in the world, 13 species live in our country, ranging from large tigers and leopards to small rabbits and cats.

Did you know? Among the many wild cats in our country, which one has the widest distribution range and the largest number? It's a small cat like an ocelot. In the 1960s and 1970s, experts estimated that the number of ocelots was no less than 1 million.

Although leopard cats are The number cannot be compared with before, but compared with other wild cats, the number of ocelots still ranks first. They are highly adaptable and are distributed from the warm and humid south to the cold and dry north.

Since the Industrial Revolution, human beings have developed at an unprecedented rate, and wild animals are disappearing at an unprecedented rate. The rapid development of urbanization has led to the reduction and loss of a large number of wild animal habitats, and generally shows a trend of humans advancing and animals retreating.

Cities are like forbidden areas for wild animals, unable to survive. However, some animals have gradually adapted to the city over time, and a few have even taken root in the city.

For example, the North American coyote and the ocelot we mentioned are representatives of this type of animal. Take ocelots as an example. They can be found even in the big city of Shenzhen.

Similar to domestic cats, but ocelots are more ferocious

Recently, Shenzhen experienced a heavy rain. When Mr. Li, a citizen, was passing by Nanshan Dashahe Park, he suddenly noticed something strange on the roadside. He saw a small animal curled up. , the hair on his body has obviously been wet by the rain.

From a distance, this little animal looks like a big mouse, but when you look closer, you find that it is an unusual "cat". The markings on its body are very special, different from ordinary domestic cats, a bit like the markings of a leopard. Although this "strange cat" is very small, its eyesBut it's full of wildness and looks quite fierce.

At that time, the "strange cat" was relatively weak, so Mr. Li took it back for rescue. Only later did he learn that it was not an ordinary cat at all, but a leopard cat, a national second-level protected animal.

The ocelot is a relatively common small cat in my country. It looks very similar to a domestic cat overall, but the ocelot's body structure is more slender, its limbs are more slender in proportion, and its personality is more ferocious.

The adult weight is generally 1.5-5 kilograms, and the body has beautiful markings that resemble copper coins in ancient my country. Therefore, leopard cats are also called "money cats." Ocelots are distributed in both north and south, and there are some differences among individuals living in different areas. The fur color of southern species is mainly light yellow or light brown, while the base color of northern species' hair is grayer.

The typical characteristic of ocelots is that there are two black stripes on the inner corners of the eyes extending to the base of the ears, and two white stripes on the inner corners of the eyes extending to the nose.

It is good at climbing trees, can swim, and can also steal chickens

Most cats are all-round hunters, and the ocelot is no exception. It is good at climbing, and can climb trees like Walking on flat ground. Although they are terrestrial predators, they spend a considerable part of their daily life in trees, where they can even hunt small birds.

Ocelots are also good at swimming. They often move around rivers or ponds and other watery banks. On the one hand, small mammals are abundant near water sources; on the other hand, fish, crabs, etc. living in the water sometimes become prey of ocelots, and they can occasionally catch fish.

Ocelots mostly hunt in ambush, mainly hunting various small rodents, frogs, snakes, lizards, etc. In its diet structure, rats account for the vast majority, which can be regarded as the nemesis of "rats".

In some villages in my country, leopard cats are also called "chicken-catching tigers." Why is it called this? This is related to a habit of ocelots.

Although ocelots mainly live in mountain forests, some ocelots near villages on the edge of the forest will be affected by human activities. They will sneak into the villages at night and steal chickens, ducks and other poultry. Not inferior to the weasel, hence the ocelot's name.

They have strong adaptability, and there are many in Shenzhen

Ocelots are forest-dwelling wild cats with strong adaptability. They can survive in various types of environments such as mountain forests, suburban shrubs, and wetlands and grasslands. Survive.

For ocelotsIn fact, the city is not a place that cannot be entered. In fact, on the contrary, the city has become a newly expanded territory for ocelots. Take Shenzhen as an example. There are a lot of ocelots in the city. They are often found in city parks and landscape wetlands.

For example, people have seen leopard cats many times in places such as Yangmeikeng, Tanglang Mountain, and OCT in Shenzhen. Because ocelots are so similar to domestic cats, it is not ruled out that more people have seen them in more places, but just think of them as ordinary stray cats.

As a small predator in the ecosystem, the role of the ocelot is self-evident. Its existence can inhibit the population development of small mammals and play an indelible role in maintaining ecological balance. . For Shenzhen, leopard cats are also important targets of protection and have even become the city’s ecological business card.

In order to better protect ocelots and reduce the impact of road killing on ocelots, Shenzhen even built a "bridge" specifically for them. On the Pingxi Highway connecting Dapeng New District and Nan'ao, there is a viaduct covered with vegetation, which is an ecological corridor for leopard cats and other wild animals to walk.

It reconnects the habitats that were originally divided into two parts by the road, and increases the exchange opportunities between the two originally independent regional populations. It is undoubtedly important for the protection of ocelots and other wild animals. Good.

As the results of ecological construction gradually become apparent, and awareness of animal protection gradually becomes more and more popular, it is believed that the number of leopard cats will further increase, and the probability of people discovering them will also greatly increase.

In fact, it is not uncommon for some wild animals to be regarded as domestic pets. In addition to leopard cats, which are easily regarded as domestic cats, for example, in Shanghai, there is a canine called raccoon dog, which is also easily regarded as a domestic pet by people. Treated as a stray dog. Therefore, I would like to advise everyone here that when you see some unique little animals outside, it is best not to take them home.