‘Huge milestone’ as rare leopard cub born at Dartmoor Zoo

A rare leopard cub has been born in a zoo in a “huge milestone” for the critically endangered species.

Bosses at Dartmoor Zoo in Devon announced the successful birth of the Amur leopard cub to parents Lena and Freddo.

The species is described as the “world’s rarest big cat” with only an estimated 120 remaining in the wild, and staff said zoological records showed only 15 Amur leopards had been born in captivity worldwide this year.

The unnamed cub at Dartmoor was born on 29 September, with its birth captured on CCTV, but the arrival was only announced by the zoo this week.

Chief executive David Gibson said the cub’s birth was “the culmination of several years of planning and hard work” and “globally important” for conservation efforts.

Lena arrived at the Sparkwell site from Colchester Zoo in August 2024, after Freddo was listed on a system described by keepers as a “dating site for animals”.

The pair were said to have become “inseparable” before staff noted “multiple observations of mutual grooming and mating”.

The cub has started to explore its surroundings and was seen “waving” out a window.

Keepers said in the wild females normally give birth to litters of up to three cubs at a time and they are kept hidden for the first eight weeks of their lives to help protect them from predators.

To replicate natural behaviours in the wild, Freddo and Lena were separated a few days before the anticipated arrival of the cub.

Initial observations show Lena seemed calm and in good spirits, while encounters with Freddo were positive.

Animal manager Madeleine Millin, who has been monitoring progress via CCTV, said Lena was doing a “fantastic job of caring for her little one”.

“The cub is moving around well, playing with mum and exploring the surroundings of the den,” she said.

“The entire keeper team are excited and I’m very proud and can’t wait to watch the cub develop and thrive.”