Ocelot (Photo: Cassandre Crawford)

Cinco de Gato: Eat, Drink and Help Save Ocelots in Texas!

Cinco de Gato logoMore commonly found in Central and South America, a small endangered population of about 80 ocelots still roams the thorny brush habitats found on ranchlands and the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in South Texas. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners are working to protect the Texas ocelot, and the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) invites you to help support their efforts by joining us for our first annual Cinco de Gato fundraising event!

Barrio Logo with phoneThis Friday on May 8 between 5:00pm and 11:00pm, join us at Barrio Tequileria in Northside (3937 Spring Grove Ave). Barrio Tequileria has generously offered to donate a portion of food and drink sales during the event to the cause. Cincinnati Magazine recently recognized Barrio Tequileria as having one of Cincinnati’s top outdoor dining patios. You can even bring your dogs!

If you come early, you might get the chance to meet a special animal ambassador, and later in the evening there will be live music. We’ll be selling Cinco de Gato merchandise, including t-shirts, shot glasses and magnets painted by the Zoo’s ocelot ambassadors, Sihil and Santos. There will also be a piñata raffle and face painting. The event is sure to be fun for all ages!

Sihil, one of the Zoo's ocelot ambassadors, really puts her whole body into her art! You can purchase magnets painted by Sihil at Cinco de Gato.
Sihil, one of the Zoo’s ocelot ambassadors, really puts her whole body into her art! You can purchase magnets painted by Sihil at Cinco de Gato.
Cinco de Gato t-shirts and magnets painted by the Zoo's ocelots are among the merchandise that will be for sale at the event.
Cinco de Gato t-shirts and magnets painted by the Zoo’s ocelots are among the merchandise that will be for sale at the event.

Admission to the event is free! Funds raised will support Texas ocelot conservation through the Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. So come on out for some great fun, food and drinks!

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