Two rare Amur leopard cubs born at Saint Louis Zoo
ST. LOUIS - The Saint Louis Zoo is celebrating the birth of two Amur leopard cubs, one of the most critically endangered big cats in the world.
The births mark an important contribution to the Amur leopard population, with only around 100 remaining in the wild, primarily in the Russian Far East and northeastern China.
“The birth of these cubs is not just a celebration for Saint Louis, but a victory for the future of one of the world’s rarest and most remarkable animals,” said Julie Hartell-DeNardo, Saint Louis Zoo Kevin Beckmann Curator of Carnivores “Amur leopards’ survival depends on the conservation efforts of zoos like ours. Without this work, we might lose these cats altogether.”
This is the second litter for 7-year-old parents Dot and Samson. Dot and the cubs are bonding in their private, indoor maternity den. It will be several months before the leopard family makes a public debut, similar to how cubs in the wild stay hidden until they are old enough to leave the den with their mother.
“As a second-time mom, Dot knows exactly what to do,” said Hartell-DeNardo. “Every Amur leopard birth is critical for the survival of this rare species. Our team is incredibly grateful to see mom and cubs doing so well so quickly."
The first few months of life are especially critical for newborn leopards. The zoo's animal care team is monitoring the family via camera, allowing them to watch their behavior and observe Dot nursing and caring for her cubs.
In the upcoming weeks, veterinarians will conduct a wellness check on the cubs, during which time their genders will be confirmed. The zoo will wait until then to name the cubs.
Dot and Samson moved to the Saint Louis Zoo in 2020 and 2021 from other Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) zoos. They were paired on a breeding recommendation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Amur Leopard Species Survival Plan (SSP), a cooperative program responsible for maintaining a genetically healthy population of Amur leopards in North American zoos.
Samson can be seen by Zoo guests in his habitat at Big Cat Country while Dot cares for the two new cubs.
