CMZoo celebrates birthday of endangered leopards
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Friday, May 17 is not an ordinary day at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZoo) as the zoo is celebrating the birth of a pair of Amur Leopards that happened one year ago.
In 2023 Anadyr and Anya two critically endangered Amur Leopards became parents to Basha and Mango. CMZoo said Amur Leopards are known as the rarest big cats on the planet and Basha and Mango’s existence is hope for the future of their species. Only around 100 Amur Leopards exist in the wilds of far-east Russia and China, according to CMZoo.
Courtesy: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Courtesy: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Courtesy: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Courtesy: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
CMZoo is part of the Amur Leopard Species Survival Plan (SSP) and accepted the risky breeding recommendation as both Anya and Anydyr’s genetics are underrepresented in both wild and human care populations.
“This celebration marks not only Basha and Mango’s first year of life but also symbolizes hope for the future of Amur Leopards,” writes CMZoo.
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