One of the most magical apparitions in Iberá. Its coat is unmistakable: a buff or grayish-yellow background covered with elongated rosettes in the form of black bands with brown centers, arranged horizontally along the body. Its huge eyes are adapted to total darkness and its broad, padded paws let it walk in complete silence through the woodland. Total length: 100 to 140 cm (body 70-90 cm, ringed tail 30-50 cm). Weight: 8 to 15 kg, with males considerably more robust. In Argentina it is classified as Vulnerable due to the loss of native forest outside the reserves.
Behaviour
A solitary, nocturnal and crepuscular predator. An exceptional climber: it uses tree branches to rest by day, but hunts mainly on the woodland floor. A strictly carnivorous diet: cavies, armadillos, young capybaras, opossums, ground-dwelling birds and tegu lizards. It marks out enormous territories with claw marks on trunks and communal latrines.
How and when to see it
Year round. Sightings are extraordinary events. The best chances come on night safaris in portals with dense stretches of closed woodland. Portals Mburucuyá and Laguna Iberá (Sendero de los Montes Nativos) have the most consistent records.
Where to see it in the Iberá
The gateways of the Great Iberá Park where ocelot has confirmed presence:
Tours to see it
Verified providers operating at the gateways where ocelot lives. You contact them directly on WhatsApp from the app.
- Esteros Ñe’é
Experiencias con relato local y mirada cultural sobre los esteros.★ 5 - Reserva Natural Don Luis
Reserva natural privada en Portal Cambyretá, gestionada por la Fundación Cambyretá…★ 5 - Iberá Spirit
Agencia de turismo especializada en los Esteros del Iberá desde hace 10 años. Paquetes…★ 5 - Iberá Explorer
Experiencias y excursiones multidía en Iberá.★ 4.9
Species profile
- Common nameOcelot
- Scientific nameLeopardus pardalis
- GroupMammal
- StatusReintroduced
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