'Absolutely devastated': Nashville Zoo announces unexpected death of clouded leopard cub
The Nashville Zoo announced the sudden and unexpected loss of a clouded leopard cub on Saturday.
The rare cub, who was yet to be named, was born on Feb. 25 and died on Friday due to intestinal bleeding, according to a news release from the zoo.
"This cub represented a proud achievement for us and a hopeful future for her species," the zoo's president and CEO Rick Schwartz said in the release. "She captured the hearts of millions of people, and we are absolutely devastated."
The zoo said the cub developed acute hemorrhagic gastroenteritis in her gastrointestinal tract on April 3. The zoo veterinary team worked quickly to try to save the cub. The exact cause of the condition has not yet been determined, the release said.
The cub garnered media attention nationwide and drew tens of thousands of likes and comments across the zoo's social media platforms. A contest to choose a name for the cub that doubled as a fundraiser for clouded leopard conservation efforts was launched shortly after her birth.
Clouded leopards are among the rarest cat species on the planet and are highly elusive. They are native to Southeast Asia in countries like Nepal and Bangladesh, where they live in tropical lowlands. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the leopards are vulnerable to extinction because of deforestation, poaching and pet trade. An estimated 10,000 clouded leopards exist worldwide, but exact data is not available.
The Nashville Zoo is leader in the conservation of clouded leopards. It is part of the Clouded Leopard Species Survival Plan and helps protect the rare cats through breeding, reproduction, advanced veterinary care and other efforts. Learn more about the zoo's largest conservation efforts at nashvillezoo.org/conservation.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Zoo announces unexpected death of clouded leopard cub
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