Endangered Amur leopard cubs born at Helsinki Zoo
The birth is significant for conservation efforts, as breeding helps maintain genetic diversity in the critically endangered species.
Two Amur leopard cubs, a male and female, were born at Helsinki Zoo, marking a crucial development in the conservation of this critically endangered species. At five weeks old and weighing about 2.5 kilograms each, the cubs have already undergone their first health check, where zoo staff and veterinarians measured them, treated them for parasites, and implanted microchips for identification.
Korkeasaari Zoo's efforts to breed Amur leopards have spanned five years, with the most recent successful match occurring between the zoo's male, Timba, and a third female after previous pairings did not work out. This particular pairing was smooth from the start, according to zookeeper Jonne Stenroth. Timba, who carries a rare genetic lineage from a wild-born Amur leopard, was transferred from Moscow Zoo to Korkeasaari Zoo in 2021.
With fewer than 130 Amur leopards remaining in the wild, these cubs hold significant importance for conservation efforts. Living in Russia’s Far East and northeastern China, these leopards face challenges such as habitat destruction, poaching, and disease. While plans for reintroducing zoo-bred Amur leopards into protected areas in Russia are on hold due to geopolitical issues, conservation projects in China continue.
Written by urgent.news from Yle News Finland's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
