World's Rarest Big Cat: Endangered Amur Leopard in San Diego Zoo Gives Birth to Twin Cubs

On Tuesday, the world's rarest big cat population gained two new members at the San Diego Zoo thanks to the birth of twin cubs by an endangered amur leopard.

The cubs are the third set of Amur leopard twins that were born at the zoo, according to a San Diego Zoo Facebook post.

According to the post, Satka, the mother of the twin cubs, is "fur-familiar" with her parental responsibilities.

She keeps a close eye on the cubs as they start to explore the habitat outside when she is not in the den caring for and nursing them.

No information was provided by the zoo regarding the cubs' names, USA Today reported.

Endangered Amur Leopard

The Amur leopard is a nocturnal animal that spends its time alone, hunting mostly in China's and Russia's vast forests.

The hairs on that distinctive coat can become up to seven centimeters long during the harsh winter.

The Amur leopard's habitat has been gradually destroyed over time by forest fires, unsustainable logging, road construction, industrial development, and farming, in addition to merciless hunting.

The numbers of wild Amur leopards in Russia and north-east China are thought to have improved to at least 120 adults, according to recent research, which demonstrated the effectiveness of conservation efforts.

The Amur leopard, however, is still one of the rarest and most seriously endangered leopard subspecies in the world, according to the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF).

According to San Diego Zoo, Amur leopards enjoy exploring, climbing, and playing with new objects.

They also have a strong sense of smell, which is why wildlife care professionals add essential oils like lavender, cinnamon, and spearmint to their hay and climbing frames.

They do, however, sleep a lot, just like most cats.

The leopards in San Diego Zoo can be seen in the Africa Rocks and also in the Asian Passage area.

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Habitat and Population

Amur leopards avoid open grasslands and populated areas in favor of living in areas with a combination of Korean pine and deciduous forest.

These days, they are only to be found in the northernmost parts of China, possibly in North Korea, and the Russian Far East.

Fewer Amur leopards live in China, but most are in Russia, putting their range less than 2,500 square kilometers.

Amur leopards are the top predators in their area, making them essential for maintaining a healthy species balance.

The condition of the surrounding environment, which supplies local wildlife and residents with food, water, and other resources, is also impacted by this.

The WWF claimed that by protecting the Amur leopard, its environment is also protected for the benefit of nearby people and other wildlife.

Leopards are crossing the border into China to establish new territories, and the last isolated population is located in southwest Primorye in the Far East regions of Russia.

Despite unconfirmed sighting reports of Amur leopards in the Korean Demilitarized Zone, it is currently impossible to determine the status of these animals on the Korean peninsula.

They are, officially, no longer found in South Korea.

Its population as of July 2018 consists of 217 Amur leopards housed in 88 facilities.

The population has a 91% gene diversity retention rate and is descended from 14 founders, according to the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

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