Latest news with #YWP
BBC News
7 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Clean bill of health for inbred Yorkshire Wildlife Park lion cubs
Three lion cubs whose "shock" birth in captivity was the result of an incestuous mating between a mother and her son are all healthy, staff at a wildlife park have cubs, which are now nine weeks old, were born in April at Yorkshire Wildlife Park (YWP), near Doncaster, amid fears the inbreeding could cause genetic YWP staff said that following the cubs' two-month check up and vaccinations, they had a "clean bill of health".Bex Brown, head of carnivores at the wildlife park, said it was "such a delight to see a new generation of lions healthy and happy". The cubs' mother, Aysa, was rescued from war-torn Kyiv in March 2024 with her female cubs Emi and Santa, and male Teddi, who is now arrived at YWP after being moved 2,000 miles (3,219km) by road from a Polish holding was thought that Aysa became pregnant between two vasectomy procedures her son Teddi underwent towards the end of park has been criticised for the "against the odds" pregnancy, because inbreeding can lead to health defects and abnormalities. But a spokesperson said it was decided not to separate the lioness and her older cubs because they had spent nine months apart without sunlight or outside stimulation on their journey to Doncaster and there had been fears separating them again would have "compromised" Teddi. Staff at YWP said following the cubs' latest check-ups and vaccinations, their development was on track and they were hitting weight and growth milestones."We are so happy to share that the cubs are doing well," Ms Brown said."Their personalities are already coming through and the boys are definitely a bit more boisterous. "The female is a little more delicate and keener on coming over to see the keepers." Staff said the cubs needed "the best possible start at life" and, as the weather improved and the cubs grew, they were getting more time the new cubs would live alongside their older siblings, but for now could be seen on screen, a spokesperson Brown said: "We're working on gradually progressing them to the reserves, but first need to do some 'cub-proofing' to ensure they're safe."Hopefully, soon visitors will be able to see the cubs join their siblings and learn to socialise with the rest of the pride." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
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.
BBC News
31-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Yorkshire Wildlife Park's 'surprise' over lions' inbreeding
The "shock" birth of three lion cubs in captivity was the result of an incestuous mating between a mother and her son, it has been revealed. The Yorkshire Wildlife Park (YWP) rescued a family of lions from Ukraine and the mother became pregnant while on contraception before the two-year-old male had had a successful Doncaster-based attraction has been criticised by visitors over the "against the odds" event as inbreeding can lead to health defects and abnormalities, according to wildlife the YWP said it did not separate the lioness and her older cubs because it would have "compromised the welfare" of the new litter's father, Teddi. It is thought the mother, Aysa, became pregnant between two vasectomy procedures her son Teddi underwent towards the end of and her first set of cubs, with Teddi among them, arrived at the park last March after a journey from a holding facility in were reunited after they had spent nine months apart from each other without any sunlight or stimulation from the outside park's director of animals, Dr Charlotte MacDonald, said: "It was a very pleasant surprise but one I would rather not have had. "People might ask why we didn't keep the males separate from the girls if we thought that this might be a risk."But it's because they are a social species." She added: "You've got to weigh up the balance in terms of the type of contraception and everything that you chose in order to keep these animals together and they had such a rough start in life, this little family. "To split them up again would have just been horrendous."Keepers suspected four-year-old Aysa was pregnant for a while but said it was difficult to be sure as she already had a "saggy tummy". Most contraceptives available to zookeepers were only 99% effective, said Dr MacDonald. "So, against all the odds, it would appear that he's managed to catch the 1% that didn't work", she added. Aysa was "very attentive and motherly" to her cubs, who were born on 24 March, and all appear healthy, according to the in 2014, five lions were destroyed at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire because they had serious genetic defects caused by inbreeding. The attraction said at the time it had no choice but to put down a lioness and her cubs because they displayed "odd aggressive behaviour" due to "poorly managed genetic history" prior to their arrival. Bex Brown, section head of carnivores at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, said: "(Their experiences in) Kyiv must have been traumatic for them, but here it's as nice and comfortable and peaceful as it can be."The older siblings are currently separated from the newborn cubs but the future plan is for them to all live together." Dr MacDonald added: "We have absolutely no further intention of breeding any more lions at Yorkshire Wildlife Park."They will have a good life here."Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
