Rare leopard couple introduced at Devon zoo

Months of planning pays off

A significant step in the conservation of the world's rarest big cat has taken place at Dartmoor Zoo.

After months of preparation, Amur Leopard pair Freddo and Lena have been successfully introduced.

Freddo arrived from Belgium in November 2023, and Lena joined him from Colchester Zoo in August 2024.

With fewer than 100 Amur Leopards remaining in the wild, this breeding program offers vital hope for the species' survival.

Their initial encounter on Tuesday, April 29th, went well, with keepers optimistic about their future relationship and potential cubs.

This successful introduction coincides with International Leopard Day last week on May 3rd, highlighting the importance of global conservation efforts."

Dartmoor Zoo’s Animal Manager Madeleine Millin commented: “Mixing big cats can be a dangerous business, and not to be rushed.

Both cats demonstrated positive behaviours towards one another and over time their relationship remained steady.

Our main challenge was working with Lena herself, she is extremely wary of people, and it took a lot of time, effort and patience to build up trust between us. We then had to swap the leopards around to get used to each other’s spaces.

Once we were confident it was time to introduce them, we had to make sure that the weather was calm with no strong winds, and we had our safety measures in place.”

See if you can spot the pair on your next visit to Dartmoor Zoo, near Exeter.