Latest news with #DartmoorZoo
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."
BBC News
24-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Wildwood Trust: 'New enclosure will support lynx breeding plans'
A new lynx enclosure will be "a major step forward" in a Kent wildlife charity's ambitions to see the species returned to the British countryside, a spokesperson has Trust has begun construction on a new enclosure at its wildlife park near Canterbury which it said will offer an immersive visitor experience and support future breeding Habben, head of zoo operations, said: "Our ambition is to breed lynx in the future so this facility will be able to accommodate that, but as much as anything, this is about creating a really exciting habitat and showcasing the species to the public."He said the trust believed lynx should be back in the British countryside. "Lynx form an exciting part of our ecosystems and our future, and we hope this new enclosure can help dispel misleading assumptions about this native species," he trust said four lynx that were illegally released in the Cairngorms in January had reignited public debate about the species' wild cats were once native to Britain but were driven to extinction 500 to 1,000 years ago through habitat loss and are listed on the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, so lynx keeping is licensed by local authorities and the animals cannot be released unless into a secure new enclosure will have a raised walkway, set to open later in the year, for viewing the lynx from multiple angles. It will be the new home for the park's lynx Flossie and Torridon, currently being housed at Dartmoor Zoo while the build is underway. Sally Holt, head of carnivores and small mammals at Wildwood, said: "We are very grateful to Dartmoor Zoo for providing a temporary home for our lynx while we construct their significantly larger and more complex habitat."This new facility will feature mature trees for climbing and exploration, as well as expansive platforms and diverse branching for roaming."The first phase of the project, including the main paddock and indoor areas, is due to be complete for the summer when the lynx will return to Kent.
