KINGSTON, Jamaica, May 8, CMC – A Jamaican and two Hondurans were taken into custody on Wednesday after they were caught attempting to smuggle wild animals into the island.
The men were captured after the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard intercepted a vessel off the south coast early that morning.
Four monkeys, 12 parrots, an ocelot cub and a quantity of marijuana were found aboard the vessel.
The JDF says during processing, the cub escaped into the town of Black River, in the southern parish of St. Elizabeth and it is seeking the public’s help to find the animal.
Members of the security forces, officials from the National Environment and Planning Agency, and the Veterinary Services Department have been combing sections of Black River in search of the wildcat.
The army says the public should note that the cub resembles a kitten and may appear to be harmless. But despite its size and appearance, it is a wild animal and no attempt should be made to capture or tame it.
The public is being reminded that accepting and keeping animals brought into Jamaica without the proper permits is illegal.
Meanwhile, an investigation into the smuggling incident is ongoing.
Ocelots are not known for being aggressive towards humans, but they may display aggressive behaviour when threatened or cornered.
They are skilled predators and will defend themselves if they feel threatened or are protecting their territory.
CMC/jm/kb/2025