Latest news with #Niran
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nashville Zoo mourns death of rare clouded leopard cub
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Staff members at the Nashville Zoo are mourning the loss of a clouded leopard cub, who died from intestinal bleeding Friday, just over a month after she was born. 'This cub represented a proud achievement for us and a hopeful future for her species,' said Nashville Zoo President and CEO Rick Schwartz. 'She captured the hearts of millions of people, and we are absolutely devastated.' According to the zoo, the cub was born on Feb. 25. She was the third litter for the mated pair of Niran and Ron but the fourth female cub to be born to Niran. ORIGINAL STORY: Nashville Zoo welcomes new clouded leopard cub Since she was the first and only clouded leopard cub born in a zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums this year, officials described the cub's survivability as 'critical' and chose to hand-rear the cub. The cub gained attention across the country over the past few weeks as the zoo posted pictures and videos of her on social media. Then, on Thursday, April 3, the cub developed acute hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE), a bleeding into the GI tract, so the Nashville Zoo said its veterinary team reacted immediately and tried to alleviate the issue. However, their efforts were unsuccessful. Officials have yet to determine the cause of the HGE. 'Rest in peace, little one. You will be deeply missed, but your impact on clouded leopard conservation will live on,' the zoo posted on Facebook. This news comes just one week before voting was set to close in the naming contest for the cub. For the past few weeks, people have been asked to pick between three names — Lara, Mi, and Tashi — and donate $1 per vote, with all proceeds going to support Save Vietnam's Wildlife. The winning name was going to be announced on Sunday, April 13. ⏩ 'Clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa) are native to the tropical lowlands of Southeast Asia in countries such as Nepal and Bangladesh. They are considered vulnerable to extinction according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to deforestation, poaching and pet trade. Precise data on clouded leopard population numbers is not known, but researchers estimate there are around 10,000 clouded leopards in the wild,' the Nashville Zoo said in a statement on Saturday, April 5. 'Specific populations can be difficult to track, as the clouded leopard is among the rarest of the world's cat species and one of the most elusive. The reduced number of pelts encountered at illegal markets and reduced sightings of clouded leopards by people within its range suggest the species is in decline.' The Nashville Zoo said it's part of the Clouded Leopard Species Survival Plan, working to protect the species through collaborative breeding programs, assisted reproduction, advanced veterinary care, and captive husbandry techniques. To learn more about the zoo's conservation efforts, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nashville Zoo's new adorable leopard cub needs a name. How to enter the zoo's naming contest
The Nashville Zoo recently welcomed a rare arrival — a female, clouded leopard cub. The cub was born on Feb. 25 and currently weighs the size of a small baguette, said the zoo. The cub measures about 13-inches-long from her nose to the tip of her tail. The adorable, spotted cub is the third litter for mated pair Niran (female) and Ron (male) and is the fourth female cub to be born to Niran. Guests can view the cub at the Zoo's HCA Healthcare Veterinary Center. "We are thrilled to see the success of natural breeding between Niran and Ron," said Nashville Zoo's Director of Veterinary Services Heather Schwartz. "The birth of this new clouded leopard cub is a huge accomplishment in our conservation efforts for the species and a testament to the work we have been doing with Clouded Leopards the last 34 years." The cub's arrival marks the first clouded leopard cub birth in an AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) Accredited Zoo this year, thus making survivability critical, said the zoo. Guests of the Nashville Zoo can support conservation efforts by taking part in the zoo's naming contest. People are able to vote on: Lara, in honor of the TV personality who announced the cub's birth nationwide Tashi, a Tibetan name meaning good fortune Mi, a Vietnamese name meaning noodles. To double conservation efforts, the zoo will be matching all donations dollar for dollar. The winning name will be the one that raises the most money. Voting is now open, here's how to participate: Visit the zoo's website and click the 'Vote Now' Button Enter the amount you'd like to contribute ($1 = 1 vote) Place order, then choose your favorite name Submit and complete checkout per normal Voting will close on Saturday, April 12 at 10 p.m. local time and the winning name will be announced on Sunday, April 13. Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@ or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Zoo's new leopard cub needs a name, how you can help
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Nashville Zoo welcomes new clouded leopard cub
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Nashville Zoo is celebrating another new addition in the form of a baby clouded leopard. The zoo announced a female cub was born the evening of Feb. 25, and is currently 'about the size of a small baguette,' weighing in around 244 grams and measuring about 13 inches long from nose to tip of tail. The birth marks the 44th clouded leopard born at Nashville Zoo since 1991 and is the first cub to be born at a zoo accredited by The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) this year. | READ MORE | According to the Zoo, the new cub is the third litter for the mated pair of Niran and Ron and is the fourth female cub to be born to Niran. Since this is the first and only clouded leopard cub born in an AZA-accredited Zoo this year, the cub's survivability is 'critical.' Aligning with the AZA Species Survival Plan's recommendation, Zoo staff have elected to hand-rear the cub. Guests can now view the cub at the Zoo's HCA Healthcare Veterinary Center. A naming contest will be announced in full detail for the cub on Thursday, according to the Zoo. 'We are thrilled to see the success of natural breeding between Niran and Ron,' said Nashville Zoo Director of Veterinary Services Heather Schwartz. 'The birth of this new clouded leopard cub is a huge accomplishment in our conservation efforts for the species and a testament to the work we have been doing with Clouded Leopards the last 34 years.' 📧 Have breaking news come to you: → According to the Zoo, the AZA has 64 clouded leopards in its collection, with Nashville Zoo housing 15 of them. The success of the Zoo's clouded leopard breeding program is due in part to hand-rearing them. This technique prevents parental predation or neglect—which is common for clouded leopards—reduces the cub's stress, and allows this normally nervous species to become acclimated to the sights and sounds of human interaction typical in an exhibit environment, according to the zoo. Hand-raising also allows the Zoo to pair cubs at an early age, according to Zoo officials. The Zoo's research with breeding clouded leopards has revealed that pairing at an early age significantly reduces aggression and allows for more successful breeding pairs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
FREESTYLE DIGITAL MEDIA RELEASES DRAMEDY 'POMEGRANATE'
Dramedy Portraying Culture Clash Between Muslims and Iraqi Christians in Michigan During 2016 Election Debuts on Worldwide VOD Platforms and DVD March 4, 2025 'POMEGRANATE is a window into the lives of Middle Easterners, especially women, who've been confined to stereotypes. Understanding these lives opens the door to a more connected, compassionate world.' — Filmmaker Weam Namou LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, March 4, 2025 / / -- Freestyle Digital Media, the digital film distribution division of Byron Allen's Allen Media Group, has just released the culture clash dramedy POMEGRANATE, which is now available to rent/own on all global digital HD internet, cable, and satellite platforms, as well as on DVD, starting March 4, 2025. The March release date coincides with both Women's History Month and with International Women's Day (March 8th). Set during the U.S. presidential election season of 2016, POMEGRANATE tells the story of a young, liberal, Iraqi Muslim refugee who struggles to find her footing in a neighborhood of well-to-do, conservative Chaldeans (Iraqi Christians). Niran, age 20 is a politically liberal Muslim who wears fashionable hijabs, tight clothes, and lives with her family in a predominately Christian Iraqi suburb of Detroit, Michigan nicknamed 'Little Baghdad.' Directly across the street lives her nemesis, Mary, a politically conservative Christian who has a statue of the Virgin Mary in her front yard next to a large 'Make America Great Again' sign. Niran struggles with her identity while battling her family's fears of deprivation and demands of loyalty to Muslim traditions. Inspired by her idol Enheduanna, the first recorded writer in history and famed priestess of Ancient Mesopotamia, Niran navigates societal challenges, fights against cultural stereotypes, and most of all, aims to make her voice heard by all around her. With a desire to study, work, and love, Niran rediscovers her purpose in life. But surrounded by strong, opinionated women, can she live up to their expectations while meeting her own? The first Iraqi-American narrative film led by a creative team from the community being portrayed, POMEGRANATE was written and directed by an Iraqi woman, Weam Namou. POMEGRANATE, which has won over 30 international film awards, was produced by Sam Sako and executive produced by Scott Rosenfelt (HOME ALONE, MYSTIC PIZZA). The cast features Sam Rahmani ('Niran'), Zain Shami ('Hassina'), Ismail Taher ('Ali'), Natally Boutros ('Mary'), Lamar Babi ('Matthew'), Basim Alameen ('Sermad'), Amanda Kashat ('Nisreen'), and Jordyn Kashat ('Fatima'). POMEGRANATE, which has won over 30 international film awards, was produced by Sam Sako and executive produced by Scott Rosenfelt (HOME ALONE, MYSTIC PIZZA). 'POMEGRANATE is more than a movie, it's a window into the authentic lives of Middle Easterners, especially women, who have long been confined to stereotypes,' said filmmaker Weam Namou. 'By understanding the beauty, struggles, and resilience of these lives, we open the door to a more connected, compassionate world.' Freestyle Digital Media negotiated the deal to acquire POMEGRANATE directly with the filmmakers and Glen Reynolds of Circus Road Films. About Freestyle Digital Media The digital distribution unit of Byron Allen's Allen Media Group, Freestyle Digital Media, is a premiere multi-platform distributor with direct partnerships across all major cable, satellite, digital, and streaming platforms. Capitalizing on a robust infrastructure, proven track record, and a veteran sales team, Freestyle Digital Media is a true home for independent films. Recent releases include ALLSWELL IN NEW YORK starring Emmy award-winning actress Liza Colón-Zayas from the hit FX series THE BEAR, ALL HAPPY FAMILIES starring Josh Radnor and Rob Huebel, the drama based on a novel THE GHOST TRAP starring Zak Steiner from EUPHORIA and Greer Grammer of AWKWARD, and the Weekly World News horror-comedy THE ZOMBIE WEDDING. Other Freestyle Digital Media titles include THE ROAD DOG starring comedian Doug Stanhope, SURVIVE starring HBO's GAME OF THRONES star Sophie Turner and Corey Hawkins, the music documentary profiling blues guitar legends Jimmie Vaughan and Stevie Ray Vaughan, BROTHERS IN BLUES, DEAR ZOE starring Sadie Sink from the hit Netflix series STRANGER THINGS, Jessica Capshaw and Theo Rossi, the teen musical BEST SUMMER EVER featuring a fully integrated cast and crew of people with and without disabilities, produced by Jamie Lee Curtis, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mary Steenburgen, and Ted Danson, and THE WEDDING YEAR starring Sarah Hyland and Anna Camp. Eric Peterkofsky Legal Disclaimer:
