The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Endangered leopard cubs born
Two Amur leopard cubs — the most endangered big cats — were born at the RosamondGifford Zoo on June 19 and had their six-week health checks Wednesday.
The cubs, a male and a female, were born to female Amur leopard Tria and male leopard Rafferty, both age 2, at 3:19 a.m. and 4:45 a.m. on Wednesday, June 19, Zoo Director Ted Fox said.
A third cub, an undersized female, was born at 6:30 a.m. but did not survive. The zoo’s animal care team has been observing the cubs via closed-circuit camera with minimal intervention to allow Tria to care for themundisturbed, and she has proven to be a great mom, Fox said.
Veterinary staff were able to administer the cubs’ 6-week vaccinations Wednesday and perform a brief checkup. The male weighed in at 6.2 pounds, and the female weighs 5.6 pounds.
Onondaga County Executive RyanMcMahon announced., who was present at the cubs’ health check, said, “The Amur leopard cubs are an absolutely beautiful addition to our state-of-the-art zoo. Thank you to the entire team at the zoo, including the Friends group, for their work and commitment in helping this endangered species. I cannot wait for the rest of our community to see these awesome baby cubs.”
The cubswill remain off exhibit with their mother for the time being. The zoo acquired Tria and Rafferty last year fromthe Greenville, SC. and San Diego zoos respectively as part of the Species Survival Plan for Amur leopards, which are the world’s most endangered species of big cat.
Fewer than 90 individuals remain in the wild in their native habitat, the Amur River Basin in Far East Russia.
This species faces extinction because of habitat destruction for logging and farming, overhunting of its prey by humans and illegal poaching for their beautiful coats. Those in the wild are now protected in a preserve established by Russia in 2012, but the wild population is so small that inbreeding has become another threat to the species’ survival. The SSP overseen by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums is working to breed a genetically strong population of Amur leopards in human care.
Rosamond Gifford Zoo joined the SSP last fall with the commitment to build an Amur leopard habitat to accommodate a breed
“TheAmur leopard cubs are an absolutely beautiful addition to our state-of-the-art zoo.”
— Onondaga County Executive Ryan
McMahon
ing pair and their cubs, Fox said. The zoo will begin construction to renovate the former African lion exhibit into the Amur Leopard Woodland this fall.
The Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo is in the process of launching a fundraising campaign to help fund the new exhibit. Friends of the Zoo President Janet Agostini said the new habitat will include a high mesh ceiling, trees and climbing structures to accommodate the leopards’ affinity for climbing.
“The Friends is happy to lead the way to raise the funds to create a new exhibit for Tria and Rafferty,” Agostini said. “We are so fortunate to have these beautiful creatures, and now that they have cubs, it’s even more pressing that we provide them with the additional space and enriching environment they need to raise their family.”
Donations to the Amur Leopard Woodland project can be made at www. rosamondgiffordzoo.org/donate or by contacting Friends of the Zoo Development.