Rare Leopards Pounce onto the Scene at San Diego Zoo

One of the world's most endangered cats leapt onto the scene for the first time in the San Diego Zoo's history. Three 11-month-old Amur leopards have not stopped pouncing, running and playing, except for cat naps, since they made their debut over the weekend.

     The siblings, two males, named Kushka and Primorye, and their sister, Zeya, arrived at the San Diego Zoo as part of an international conservation program aimed at saving this critically endangered species. Less than 40 Amur leopards have been documented in the wilds of the Primorye region of the Russian Far East. A few cats may cross the border into China. They were once found in northeastern China, Russia and the Korean peninsula but have been decimated by loss of habitat and poaching for their thick, spotted coats.

     Zoos around the world started a collaborative program to breed this species. Today, there are 300 Amur leopards in zoos in Europe, Russia and North America. Zoos in the United States have stepped up efforts to protect this species and are expanding their breeding programs. The trio that now lives at the San Diego Zoo may find new homes in the future as part of the breeding programs. The siblings arrived in San Diego from the Exotic Feline Breeding Compounds Feline Conservation Center in Rosamond, Calif.

     The San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy is dedicated to bringing endangered species back from the brink of extinction. The work of the Conservancy includes onsite wildlife conservation efforts at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, and international field programs in more than 35 countries. In addition, San Diego Zoo Global manages the Anne and Kenneth Griffin Reptile Conservation Center, the Frozen ZooTM and Native Seed Gene Bank, the Keauhou and Maui Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Centers, San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike Breeding Facility, Cocha Cashu Biological Research Station, the Desert Tortoise Conservation Center, and a 800-acre biodiversity reserve adjacent to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The important conservation and science work of these entities is supported in part by The Foundation of the Zoological Society of San Diego.