Twycross Zoo had a very special announcement on the 23^rd of July.  The zoo, in Atherstone, Warwickshire, UK, is now home to two more of the rarest big cats on earth!  The pair of Amur Leopard cubs were born to their two year old mother, Kristen, on June 2^nd.

Photo Credits: Clare Smith (Photo 1), Amy Haycock (Photo 2), Gillian Day (Photos 3,4,5), Billy Florek (Photo 6)

According to estimates, there are less than 50 Amur Leopards currently living in the wild.  Native to southeastern Russia and northeastern China, the Amur Leopard is classified as “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN Red List.  Poaching, illegal logging, forest clearance and land development, as well as the risks associated with disease and in-breeding within such a small population, are all factors which threaten the long-term survival of the species.

As of 2011, there were 176 Amur Leopards living in accredited zoos throughout the world.  Twycross Zoo is a member of the EEP (European Endangered Species Programme), which is a captive breeding program that allows expert committees to analyze data from captive Amur Leopards in zoos across Europe, in an effort to find suitable breeding matches.  

Dr. John Lewis, veterinary advisor to the Amur Leopard EEP and veterinary director of Wildlife Vets International, explains: “We don’t know how many of the Amur Leopards remaining in the wild are young or old, male or female.  So if the population is skewed towards too many males, or too many older individuals, this can impact the species’ chances of breeding successfully.  The added threats of disease and human-animal conflict also jeopardize the animals’ survival.  Zoo breeding programs are fundamental to protecting and saving species that are close to extinction in the wild.” 

A healthy, managed population of Amur Leopards underpins international plans to reintroduce them to the wild habitats from where they are disappearing.  As well as participating in the EEP, Twycross Zoo is also funding research by Wildlife Vets International on the feasibility and risks of reintroducing Amur Leopards to Russia.

The scientific research is in progress.  A risk assessment on disease from prey species or domestic animals (such as canine distemper virus), as well as tick-borne pathogens, is underway, and mitigation measures are being explored.  However, progress is slow as modern wildlife conservation and any reintroduction plans involve complex negotiations on an international scale between different governments and different organizations.  The decision on whether to proceed with the Amur Leopard’s reintroduction into the wild is imminent, and rests in the hands of the Russian government, a key player in this international effort.

Dr. Charlotte Macdonald, Head of Life Sciences at Twycross Zoo said:  “We are delighted with the birth of two rare Amur Leopard cubs at Twycross Zoo.  We are hopeful that these UK-born babies will one day be part of wider conservation plans for the reintroduction of the species to the wild.  Although animals are best conserved in the wild, and it’s unlikely that any reintroduction will take place for several more years, captive-bred cubs such as these could help save the Amur Leopard from disappearing forever.”

See more photos below...