Leopard will show spots in Russian return
Conservationists are planning to release a Scottish-born Amur leopard in Russia in the first ever reintroduction to the wild of the species.
The critically-endangered cub was born at the Highland Wildlife Park near Kingussie.
Only 100 of the animals remain in the wild, with plans to move the cat to the species’ native range in Russia.
If successful, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland said the release would be “an extraordinary conservation success”.
A critically-endangered leopard cub born in Scotland could be released into the wild in Russia as a world first.
News that Amur leopards Freddo and Arina had become parents was confirmed recently at the Highland Wildlife Park near Kingussie by the cub making a crying sound.
It is hoped the cat will be moved to Russia in future as part of conservation efforts and would be among only 100 which remain in the wild.
If successful, it would be the first ever reintroduction to the wild of a critically-endangered Amur leopard.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Douglas Richardson, head of living collections at the wildlife park, said: “Our approach to managing this highly threatened cat is globally unique, with the zoo and conservation community watching what we do with a view to following our lead.
“Being able to send captivebred Amur leopards back to a part of their historic wild range in Russia would represent an extraordinary conservation success.
“Although progress has been made in recent years, habitat loss, poaching and conflict with humans remain threats to the Amur leopard, with only around 100 remaining in the wild. We have the only specially designed off-show breeding habitat in the zoo world, which ensures minimal interaction with humans and no contact with our visitors.
“Working with conservation partners, including ZSL [Zoological Society of London] and conservation authorities in Russia, we hope to introduce cubs born at the park to a region northeast of Vladivostok, in the Russian Far East.
“A phased approach would be needed, with young leopards spending several months acclimatising and sharpening their survival skills in a contained, naturalistic environment within the proposed location of Lazovsky Zapovednik, before being released and monitored.
“Introducing such a large predator to the wild is incredibly complex but, all being well, we hope this may be possible in the next few years.
“This is incredibly exciting and again demonstrates the vital role zoos and conservation breeding programmes have in protecting threatened species.”
The only sighting of the cub – believed to have been born around June 17 – has been made through camera traps.
It has been kept away from humans in the complex for welfare reasons.
The pen has been designed specifically to breed Amur leopards and maximise the possibility of them being released into the wild.
With minimal human contact, it is not yet known if more than one cub has been born.
The park’s breeding complex was completed last year and funded by an anonymous donation.
It is expected the gender of the cub will be confirmed when it has its first physical check-up at about three months old.
Freddo arrived at the Kingussie park from Tallinn Zoo in Estonia while Arina was born at Twycross Zoo in the Midlands.