WESLACO – Although the South Texas ocelot species is disappearing, conservationists say there’s still hope.

These conservationists are breeding in captivity to help the species in the wild.

The breeding resulted in a birth earlier this year.  

They are excited about their reproduction, as well as the health of the older members of the population.

KRGV’s Christian von Preysing was up close to Clyde, a 13-year-old ocelot – he is considered a senior citizen for his species.

"Our long-term goal is to breed these guys to be so successful that we can release them into the wild, so hopefully someday we can repopulate this area, and bring the numbers up to where the genetic pool is stable and will thrive," explains Jay Brooks Jensen, curator of wildlife care at the Texas Zoo.

Watch the video above for the full story.