Sihil, a young female ocelot from the Cinncinati Zoo, impressed visitors with her agility during the Ocelot program at the 9th Annual Ocelot Festival. (USFWS Photo, 02/09/08)

A young girl tries her hand at archery during the 9th Annual Ocelot Conservation Festival. (USFWS Photo, 02/09/08)

Visitors enjoyed the live raptor show at the 9th Annual Ocelot Conservation Festival. (USFWS Photo, 02/09/08)

Children especially enjoyed the canoe program, a new addition to the activities this year at the 9th Annual Ocelot Festival. (USFWS Photo, 02/09/08)

The ninth Annual Ocelot Conservation Festival was held on February 9, 2008, at the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Texas.  This special annual event is a partnership effort of the Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, the Valley Morning Star newspaper, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Laguna Atascosa NWR.  Approximately 4,000 people from 29 area cities, 26 states, and Canada attended the event, which featured nature-oriented activities for children and adults.  Featured programs included the Last Chance Forever live raptor program, Capital of Texas Zoo live animal program, and the Cincinnati Zoo live ocelot program.  Other activities included a live sea turtle program, a beach animal puppet show, a live auction, a laser hunting simulation, sea life touch tanks, archery, a canoeing tank, and many other activities focused on native wildlife of the area and the “Big Six” priority wildlife-dependent recreational uses of national wildlife refuges.  Proceeds from the event went to the nonprofit Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge to be used for ocelot conservation, education, and research.