ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica – Dr Sophia Ramlal, the director of veterinary services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining has confirmed that the smuggled animal which is believed to be on the loose in the Black River area is a wildcat called an ocelot, not a tiger cub.

A press release from the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) on Wednesday morning had mentioned that a tiger cub was among several animals smuggled into the country.

However, Dr Ramlal told Observer Online a short while ago that the animal is a wildcat.

“It is not a cub… It is an ocelot, which is also a wildcat, it is not native to Jamaica and so whereas it may not be the size of a tiger, it is a wild animal and should be treated with the same precaution as any other wild animal that is not native to Jamaica,” she said.

She said the most concerning factor regarding the ocelot is the uncertainty about its health.

“In that regard what I am saying is we cannot currently verify the health status of this animal. We believe it to be a young animal almost looking like a kitten, but it is still a wild animal and should be treated with care, with caution, with compassion and if spotted should be turned over. We should be notified. The Veterinary Services Division, the police, NEPA, JDF, anybody from the listed agencies should be notified that this ocelot has been spotted,” she said.

“It is advised not to be interacting with the ocelot, not to harm the ocelot, to treat it as a specie we know we have not allowed entry to Jamaica, and so as a precaution to ensure that they are treating with it safely, but reporting it so we can come and collect it,” added Ramlal.

According to the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), the coast guard intercepted a vessel off the south coast of Jamaica which was carrying four monkeys, 12 parrots, one tiger cub and a quantity of marijuana. However, during processing at Black River, the wild cat managed to escape containment and is now believed to be at large in the wider Black River area, the JDF said.

Read: Smuggled tiger cub goes missing in Black River

– Kasey Williams