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Is it love for our Amur leopards?

in Animals
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A few months ago we welcomed two Amur leopards who have since settled in really well! Crispin our male is very good at interacting with the enrichment his keepers create for him, he particularly enjoys paper sacks hanging from branches. Esra our female doesn’t interact as much but is very vocal and loves to people watch from the high wall in her enclosure!

Recently their keepers have let the two see each other through a mesh that links their enclosures, Ersa is very vocal towards Crispin who loves laying on his back, rolling around showing off for his new friend. They seem to enjoy each other’s company and it is hoped that love might blossom for the pair and they may become a breeding pair in the near future. This is particularly important for this species as they are currently classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List, with around 70 known to be remaining in the wild.

Amur leopards are solitary cats therefore they only mix when the females come into season, we hope that this new mesh will assist in a relationship being built between the two cats when they are separate so that when they are mixed they are more at ease.

Did you know? Amur leopards are distinctive due to their beautiful pale coat and dark rosettes which are large and widely spaced with thick, unbroken rings.

We are very excited about what the future might bring for these two. Why not stop by their enclosure at Ussuari by the falls.

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5.00pm close or dusk if earlier
Last admission to zoo grounds at 4.00pm

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