• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
MENUMENU
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • FlaglerLive Board of Directors
    • Comment Policy
    • Mission Statement
    • Our Values
    • Privacy Policy
  • Live Calendar
  • Submit Obituary
  • Submit an Event
  • Support FlaglerLive
  • Advertise on FlaglerLive (386) 503-3808
  • Search Results

FlaglerLive

No Bull, no Fluff, No Smudges

MENUMENU
  • Flagler
    • Flagler County Commission
    • Beverly Beach
    • Flagler History
    • Mondex/Daytona North
    • The Hammock
    • Tourist Development Council
    • Marineland
  • Palm Coast
    • Palm Coast City Council
    • Palm Coast Crime
  • Bunnell
    • Bunnell City Commission
    • Bunnell Crime
  • Flagler Beach
    • Flagler Beach City Commission
    • Flagler Beach Crime
  • Cops/Courts
    • Circuit & County Court
    • Florida Supreme Court
    • Federal Courts
    • Flagler 911
    • Fire House
    • Flagler County Sheriff
    • Flagler Jail Bookings
    • Traffic Accidents
  • Rights & Liberties
    • First Amendment
    • Second Amendment
    • Third Amendment
    • Fourth Amendment
    • Fifth Amendment
    • Sixth Amendment
    • Seventh Amendment
    • Eighth Amendment
    • 14th Amendment
    • Sunshine Law
    • Religion & Beliefs
    • Privacy
    • Civil Rights
    • Human Rights
    • Immigration
    • Labor Rights
  • Schools
    • Adult Education
    • Belle Terre Elementary
    • Buddy Taylor Middle
    • Bunnell Elementary
    • Charter Schools
    • Daytona State College
    • Flagler County School Board
    • Flagler Palm Coast High School
    • Higher Education
    • Imagine School
    • Indian Trails Middle
    • Matanzas High School
    • Old Kings Elementary
    • Rymfire Elementary
    • Stetson University
    • Wadsworth Elementary
    • University of Florida/Florida State
  • Economy
    • Jobs & Unemployment
    • Business & Economy
    • Development & Sprawl
    • Leisure & Tourism
    • Local Business
    • Local Media
    • Real Estate & Development
    • Taxes
  • Commentary
    • The Conversation
    • Pierre Tristam
    • Diane Roberts
    • Guest Columns
    • Byblos
    • Editor's Blog
  • Culture
    • African American Cultural Society
    • Arts in Palm Coast & Flagler
    • Books
    • City Repertory Theatre
    • Flagler Auditorium
    • Flagler Playhouse
    • Special Events
  • Elections 2024
    • Amendments and Referendums
    • Presidential Election
    • Campaign Finance
    • City Elections
    • Congressional
    • Constitutionals
    • Courts
    • Governor
    • Polls
    • Voting Rights
  • Florida
    • Federal Politics
    • Florida History
    • Florida Legislature
    • Florida Legislature
    • Ron DeSantis
  • Health & Society
    • Flagler County Health Department
    • Ask the Doctor Column
    • Health Care
    • Health Care Business
    • Covid-19
    • Children and Families
    • Medicaid and Medicare
    • Mental Health
    • Poverty
    • Violence
  • All Else
    • Daily Briefing
    • Americana
    • Obituaries
    • News Briefs
    • Weather and Climate
    • Wildlife

Jacksonville Zoo Announces Birth of Two Amur Leopards, a Critically Endangered Species

December 2, 2013 | FlaglerLive | Leave a Comment

The Jacksonville Zoo's two newest Amur leopard cubs and their mother in a video capture from Nov. 16. (Jacksonville Zoo)
The Jacksonville Zoo’s two newest Amur leopard cubs and their mother in a video capture from Nov. 16. (Jacksonville Zoo)

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens announce today the birth of two Amur leopards, a subspecies of leopards that hails from the Russian far east and is also referred to as the Manchirian or Korean leopard cubs. The species is critically endangered, with perhaps two or three dozen leopards alive in the wild. As such, they may be the most endangered big cats in the world.

The first cub was born at the Jacksonville zoo at about 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 16. The second followed at 11:15 a.m. Zoo officials were able to monitor the birth with a remote camera. The leopards can expect to live 20 years in captivity, as opposed to 10 to 15 years in the wild.

“We are very proud of our leopards and our animal care team who have successfully brought two more of these extremely rare cats into the world,” said Dan Maloney, deputy director of conservation and education of Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.


This is the third litter for the cubs’ dam, or mother, whose name is Makarii, and sire, or father, whose name is Nicolai. The cubs were active immediately and have since been seen nursing frequently, clearly growing stronger. Zoo staff kept away from the cubs and their mother. They will will have their first interaction with the cubs at 9 a.m. Tuesday (Dec. 3) during the cubs’ primary medical exams. That will include weighing the cubs and doing quick checks of their overall health. A more thorough examination will be performed when the cubs are six weeks old and will include their first routine vaccinations.

The cubs normally stay about two years with their mother before they are considered independent, but they may be removed, as previous cubs have been, as part of efforts to enlarge the species’ population and possibly return some of the animals to the wild.

The same pair parented Tuffy, born in August 2011, and twins Liam and Leopold, born in May 2012. Because of their critically endangered status, Amur leopards are managed under a Species Survival Plan program through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Through a breeding recommendation from the program, Tuffy was transferred to the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans in January 2012, to be paired with a female there to further the conservation of the species. Liam and Leopold were transferred to the Staten Island Zoo, also based on an SSP recommendation.

In other breeding news at the Jacksonville Zoo, Madini, the Zoo’s first pregnant gorilla is doing well. Using ultrasound technology, staff are able to continuously monitor the growth of the fetus, and have observed strong movement and heartbeat. Lash, one of the Zoo’s two silverbacks, is the sire. The infant is due this spring.

Watch a female Amur leopard and her two nine-day-old cubs at a zoo in Estonia, in footage from 2010:

An adult Amur leopard in a zoo in England. (Nick@)
An adult Amur leopard in a zoo in England. (Nick@)
Support FlaglerLive's End of Year Fundraiser
Thank you readers for getting us to--and past--our year-end fund-raising goal yet again. It’s a bracing way to mark our 15th year at FlaglerLive. Our donors are just a fraction of the 25,000 readers who seek us out for the best-reported, most timely, trustworthy, and independent local news site anywhere, without paywall. FlaglerLive is free. Fighting misinformation and keeping democracy in the sunshine 365/7/24 isn’t free. Take a brief moment, become a champion of fearless, enlightening journalism. Any amount helps. We’re a 501(c)(3) non-profit news organization. Donations are tax deductible.  
You may donate openly or anonymously.
We like Zeffy (no fees), but if you prefer to use PayPal, click here.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Conner Bosch law attorneys lawyers offices palm coast flagler county
  • grand living realty
  • politis matovina attorneys for justice personal injury law auto truck accidents

Primary Sidebar

  • grand living realty
  • politis matovina attorneys for justice personal injury law auto truck accidents

Recent Comments

  • Deborah Coffey on Paul Renner Banks on ‘Looming Civil War’ Between DeSantis Supporters and Trump Loyalists to Win
  • Kennan on Shock, Sadness, Anxiety: Flagler County Leaders Grapple with Charlie Kirk Assassination, and Worry About What’s Next
  • Pogo on Shock, Sadness, Anxiety: Flagler County Leaders Grapple with Charlie Kirk Assassination, and Worry About What’s Next
  • Marty Reed on County Commission’s Kim Carney Peddles False and Misleading Claims in Opposition to Sales Tax for Beach Protection
  • Sherry on Shock, Sadness, Anxiety: Flagler County Leaders Grapple with Charlie Kirk Assassination, and Worry About What’s Next
  • Atwp on Shock, Sadness, Anxiety: Flagler County Leaders Grapple with Charlie Kirk Assassination, and Worry About What’s Next
  • Sherry on The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, September 11, 2025
  • Sid on Palm Coast Would Limit Ebike Speeds to 10 MPH on Sidewalks, Ban Riders Younger Than 13 and AirPods While Riding
  • PeachesMcGee on Overflow Crowd Tells County Commission: No to Taxing District on Barrier Island, Yes to Sales Tax for Beach
  • Ray W. on The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, September 11, 2025
  • KENNIE HOWARD on Spree of Break-Ins Target Vehicles at Multiple Properties on Flagler County’s West Side
  • JC on 83% of Palestinians Killed in Gaza Have Been Civilians
  • Ray W. on The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, September 11, 2025
  • Robjr on Shock, Sadness, Anxiety: Flagler County Leaders Grapple with Charlie Kirk Assassination, and Worry About What’s Next
  • Bob on Shock, Sadness, Anxiety: Flagler County Leaders Grapple with Charlie Kirk Assassination, and Worry About What’s Next
  • Sherry on County Commission’s Kim Carney Peddles False and Misleading Claims in Opposition to Sales Tax for Beach Protection

Log in