Latest news with #RickSchwartz
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
05-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'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 This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Zoo announces unexpected death of clouded leopard cub
