Latest news with #AmurLeopards
Scotsman
05-05-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Adorable Amur Leopard cubs born at award-winning wildlife park
This video More videos Super-cute footage shows two Amur Leopard cubs born at a British wildlife park - thought to be the most endangered big cat in the world. Keep up with the latest new videos with the Shots! Newsletter. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Heartwarming video (click to play above) shows two sweet newborn Amur Leopard cubs that were recently welcomed into a UK wildlife park. Mother Kristen, aged 13, is currently spending all her time nursing the super-cute babies, who are part of the world's most endangered big cat breed. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The duo - seen in the clip above- is only the second and third of their species to be born in the whole world this year. In June 2023 Kristen and father 14 year-old Drake had Auckley only six months after being introduced to each other as part of a strategic international breeding programme to help save Amur Leopards. Award-winning Yorkshire Wildlife Park has welcomed two adorable Amur Leopard cubs. Animal Director Dr Charlotte MacDonald said: 'The two new cubs are significant symbols of hope for the species, especially so soon after the arrival of Auckley. 'Kristen is proving again to be a great mum. So far, everything is going well with them, and we're keeping them under constant supervision to see that all's okay. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Cubs only weigh 2 to 3 kilos when born and will spend their first two months in the den inside the house at Leopard Heights.' Leopard Heights, which is the largest Amur leopard enclosure in the world, has a main reserve with viewing for visitors and there are two nursery reserves which are used as quiet areas for the leopards and will be the first area that the cubs start to explore once they are around 2 months old. This design and the space that the leopards have has been instrumental to the breeding success at YWP. Dr MacDonald said; ' We're looking forward to having leopard cubs around again and very excited to introduce the cubs to our visitors, who will be able see the cubs in their den on live camera via a screen.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Leopard Heights hosts an 8m tall tower with a 100 square metre viewing platform, giving visitors a fantastic view. Kristen, who was born in Czech Republic, arrived at the park in 2022. She has previously had three litters: the first eleven years ago, the second in 2016 and most recently Auckley, who was the only surviving cub born in Europe during 2023. There were only 6 other Amur leopard births in Europe and the world according to the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) in the past 12 months. The birth came only days before International Leopard Day, which raises awareness about the leopards' plight and their conservation needs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad D. MacDonald added: 'It's extremely exciting to see our efforts of helping save these beautiful creatures come to fruition.' The species are normally found in the forests of Russia and China and there are now believed to be less than 100 in the wild. They can run at speeds of up to 37mph and leap over 19 feet horizontally. The Wildlife Foundation charity, which is based at the park, has supported conservation efforts for the vulnerable species, including working with the WildCats Conservation Alliance which promotes breeding, population monitoring and habitat protection for Leopards. YWP, which puts conservation at the heart of all its activities, offers an unrivalled walk-through experience coming almost face-to -face with some of the world's most beautiful and rare species including Amur Tigers, Giraffes, Black Rhinos and Polar Bears.
Scotsman
05-05-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Adorable Amur Leopard cubs born at award-winning wildlife park
This video More videos Super-cute footage shows two Amur Leopard cubs born at a British wildlife park - thought to be the most endangered big cat in the world. Keep up with the latest new videos with the Shots! Newsletter. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Heartwarming video (click to play above) shows two sweet newborn Amur Leopard cubs that were recently welcomed into a UK wildlife park. Mother Kristen, aged 13, is currently spending all her time nursing the super-cute babies, who are part of the world's most endangered big cat breed. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The duo - seen in the clip above- is only the second and third of their species to be born in the whole world this year. In June 2023 Kristen and father 14 year-old Drake had Auckley only six months after being introduced to each other as part of a strategic international breeding programme to help save Amur Leopards. Award-winning Yorkshire Wildlife Park has welcomed two adorable Amur Leopard cubs. Animal Director Dr Charlotte MacDonald said: 'The two new cubs are significant symbols of hope for the species, especially so soon after the arrival of Auckley. 'Kristen is proving again to be a great mum. So far, everything is going well with them, and we're keeping them under constant supervision to see that all's okay. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Cubs only weigh 2 to 3 kilos when born and will spend their first two months in the den inside the house at Leopard Heights.' Leopard Heights, which is the largest Amur leopard enclosure in the world, has a main reserve with viewing for visitors and there are two nursery reserves which are used as quiet areas for the leopards and will be the first area that the cubs start to explore once they are around 2 months old. This design and the space that the leopards have has been instrumental to the breeding success at YWP. Dr MacDonald said; ' We're looking forward to having leopard cubs around again and very excited to introduce the cubs to our visitors, who will be able see the cubs in their den on live camera via a screen.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Leopard Heights hosts an 8m tall tower with a 100 square metre viewing platform, giving visitors a fantastic view. Kristen, who was born in Czech Republic, arrived at the park in 2022. She has previously had three litters: the first eleven years ago, the second in 2016 and most recently Auckley, who was the only surviving cub born in Europe during 2023. There were only 6 other Amur leopard births in Europe and the world according to the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) in the past 12 months. The birth came only days before International Leopard Day, which raises awareness about the leopards' plight and their conservation needs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad D. MacDonald added: 'It's extremely exciting to see our efforts of helping save these beautiful creatures come to fruition.' The species are normally found in the forests of Russia and China and there are now believed to be less than 100 in the wild. They can run at speeds of up to 37mph and leap over 19 feet horizontally. The Wildlife Foundation charity, which is based at the park, has supported conservation efforts for the vulnerable species, including working with the WildCats Conservation Alliance which promotes breeding, population monitoring and habitat protection for Leopards. YWP, which puts conservation at the heart of all its activities, offers an unrivalled walk-through experience coming almost face-to -face with some of the world's most beautiful and rare species including Amur Tigers, Giraffes, Black Rhinos and Polar Bears.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Zoo hoping for romance between rare leopards
A zoo in Devon has successfully introduced a pair of rare leopards in a bid to help its work conserving highly endangered species. Dartmoor Zoo's Amur Leopard pair Freddo and Lena met on 29 April after months of planning the potentially "dangerous" introduction. It said the species of leopard is considered the "rarest cat in the world" with less than 100 left in the wild. Dartmoor Zoo CEO David Gibson said the cats would be "functionally extinct" without zoo conservation efforts and he was "hopeful" for a litter of cubs. The zoo said Amur leopards are predominantly found in the border areas between Russia, North-East China and North Korea. "Amur Leopards gravitate towards densely forested areas, avoiding grasslands or overpopulated areas," it said. "Much of this area, however, is regularly under threat from unsustainable logging, forest fires, agriculture and industrial development." Mr Gibson said the introduction of the leopards was the "culmination of over three years work". "It is a part of our ongoing work supporting the conservation breeding of highly endangered species," he said. "We are very hopeful that, now the pair have been physically introduced, we will be welcoming a litter of cubs in the near future." The zoo organised fence line encounters and habitat swaps for the cats before the introduction took place in a sectioned off area. Dartmoor Zoo's animal manager Madeleine Millin said "mixing big cats can be a dangerous business, and not to be rushed". "Both cats demonstrated positive behaviours towards one another and over time their relationship remained steady," she said. "Their first encounter was brief with a little vocalisation and Lena rolling over to submit, resulting in Freddo walking away, which is exactly what we wanted to see. "They then spent the day watching and sitting near to each other." She added: "Overall, it went extremely well, and we are very proud and pleased with their introduction. "We are excited for their future and look forward to seeing their relationship blossom." Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Lynx siblings from Kent on 'holiday' in Devon Female serval cat joins rescued male at Devon zoo Dartmoor Zoo welcomes 'world's rarest big cat' Rare leopard cubs born at wildlife park Dartmoor Zoo
BBC News
04-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Dartmoor Zoo hoping for romance between rare leopards
A zoo in Devon has successfully introduced a pair of rare leopards in a bid to help its work conserving highly endangered Zoo's Amur Leopard pair Freddo and Lena met on 29 April after months of planning the potentially "dangerous" said the species of leopard is considered the "rarest cat in the world" with less than 100 left in the wild. Dartmoor Zoo CEO David Gibson said the cats would be "functionally extinct" without zoo conservation efforts and he was "hopeful" for a litter of cubs. The zoo said Amur leopards are predominantly found in the border areas between Russia, North-East China and North Korea."Amur Leopards gravitate towards densely forested areas, avoiding grasslands or overpopulated areas," it said. "Much of this area, however, is regularly under threat from unsustainable logging, forest fires, agriculture and industrial development."Mr Gibson said the introduction of the leopards was the "culmination of over three years work"."It is a part of our ongoing work supporting the conservation breeding of highly endangered species," he said."We are very hopeful that, now the pair have been physically introduced, we will be welcoming a litter of cubs in the near future." The zoo organised fence line encounters and habitat swaps for the cats before the introduction took place in a sectioned off Zoo's animal manager Madeleine Millin said "mixing big cats can be a dangerous business, and not to be rushed". "Both cats demonstrated positive behaviours towards one another and over time their relationship remained steady," she said. "Their first encounter was brief with a little vocalisation and Lena rolling over to submit, resulting in Freddo walking away, which is exactly what we wanted to see. "They then spent the day watching and sitting near to each other."She added: "Overall, it went extremely well, and we are very proud and pleased with their introduction. "We are excited for their future and look forward to seeing their relationship blossom."
