Zoo hoping for romance between rare leopards

A zoo in Devon has successfully introduced a pair of rare leopards in a bid to help its work conserving highly endangered species.

Dartmoor Zoo's Amur Leopard pair Freddo and Lena met on 29 April after months of planning the potentially "dangerous" introduction.

It said the species of leopard is considered the "rarest cat in the world" with less than 100 left in the wild.

Dartmoor Zoo CEO David Gibson said the cats would be "functionally extinct" without zoo conservation efforts and he was "hopeful" for a litter of cubs.

The zoo said Amur leopards are predominantly found in the border areas between Russia, North-East China and North Korea.

"Amur Leopards gravitate towards densely forested areas, avoiding grasslands or overpopulated areas," it said.

"Much of this area, however, is regularly under threat from unsustainable logging, forest fires, agriculture and industrial development."

Mr Gibson said the introduction of the leopards was the "culmination of over three years work".

"It is a part of our ongoing work supporting the conservation breeding of highly endangered species," he said.

"We are very hopeful that, now the pair have been physically introduced, we will be welcoming a litter of cubs in the near future."

The zoo organised fence line encounters and habitat swaps for the cats before the introduction took place in a sectioned off area.

Dartmoor Zoo's animal manager Madeleine Millin said "mixing big cats can be a dangerous business, and not to be rushed".

"Both cats demonstrated positive behaviours towards one another and over time their relationship remained steady," she said.

"Their first encounter was brief with a little vocalisation and Lena rolling over to submit, resulting in Freddo walking away, which is exactly what we wanted to see.

"They then spent the day watching and sitting near to each other."

She added: "Overall, it went extremely well, and we are very proud and pleased with their introduction.

"We are excited for their future and look forward to seeing their relationship blossom."

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