A telepathic species with a short life span.
The Ocampa are a small humanoid species who live on a planet in the Delta Quadrant, in a vast underground city that they call home. Their lives are very short, lasting only around nine years, and they are known for their gentle nature and for their mental abilities, which include telepathy.
Their world was once a lush and welcoming place, but the surface was left barren when a powerful being called the Caretaker took action in the past. Since then they have lived below ground, relying on the Caretaker's energy supply and his protection. Their society is peaceful and closely connected.
Voyager first meets the Ocampa in the opening episode Caretaker, where Kes, a young Ocampa, joins the crew and becomes the ship's medical assistant. Her telepathic abilities develop into remarkable powers over time, and she leaves the ship in the episode The Gift. Kes appears again later, in the episode Fury, and the Ocampa have since remained one of the most distinctive peoples that Voyager meets.