- Title: MEXICO: Three black baby leopards born in Mexico zoo
- Date: 12th June 2009
- Summary: METEPEC, STATE OF MEXICO, MEXICO (JUNE 09, 2009) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF ZACANGO ZOO THREE BABY LEOPARDS PLAYING IN GARDEN LEOPARD IN GARDEN CARETAKER PLAYING WITH BABY LEOPARD WHO GROWLS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JESUS FRIEVEN, VETERINARIAN AND DEPUTY ZOO TECHNICAL COORDINATOR, SAYING: "In the case of these cubs, they were not fed by the mother. The mother gave birth to the cubs but many times, the animals loose the motherly instinct in captivity. The medical area had to take care of them. We separated them from the mother from birth. We first observe the birth. If the mother neglects them within the first three hours, I have to take them away and feed them so they don't suffer from hypothermia or hypoglycemia." LEOPARD PARENTS IN CAPTIVITY (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JESUS FRIEVEN, VETERINARIAN AND DEPUTY ZOO TECHNICAL COORDINATOR, SAYING: "Both parents live at the zoo. The female was born here and the male was brought from another zoo (in the state of Morelos). The female is three-years-old, the male is five-years-old. Both are black, they are melanistic. But on many occasions although both are black, the cubs can turn out yellow. But we were lucky all three were born black, two males and one female." THREE BABY LEOPARDS PLAYING IN GARDEN (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MANLIO NUCAMENDI, VETERINARIAN AND ZOO DIRECTOR, SAYING: "They have grown and passed the critical stage of artificial rearing and will begin to be more independent. They are eating meat, we have stopped bottle-feeding them." GAZELLES RUNNING VARIOUS OF RHINOCEROS GRAZING ON GRASS AFRICAN LIONS SHIELDING FROM SUN'S RAYS AFRICA ELEPHANTS/ MOTHER AND BABY
- Embargoed: 27th June 2009 04:23
- Keywords:
- Location: Mexico
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA29JOOQRNYJG806N1OXDRC33M2
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Keepers at a Mexican zoo are celebrating the birth of three African black leopards at the Zacango Zoo, in the community of Metepec, located in the state of Mexico, about a 45-minute drive from Mexico City.
The cubs which have not been named yet - children will pick names for them at a private event to be held next July - romp around a grassy enclosure while frolicking and gently clawing each others ears in a nearby wooden play-pen.
The leopards are cared for at the medical zoo clinique, specially designed for orphan babies.
Two males and one female, were born on February 11, 2009 and weigh between 8 - 10 kilos (17.6 Ibs - 22.1 Ibs).
Veterinarians feed them twice a day with about 1 kilo (2.2. Ibs) of read meat and chicken. They stopped being bottle-fed at two months of age and are given supplements of taurine, calcium and phosphorous.
The baby leopards were removed from their mother at birth who rejected them. Jesus Frieven, veterinarian and deputy zoo technical coordinator told Reuters Television the felines usually loose their motherly instinct in captivity.
"In the case of these cubs, they were not fed by the mother. The mother gave birth to the cubs but many times, the animals loose the motherly instinct in captivity. The medical area had to take care of them. We separated them from the mother from birth. We first observe the birth. If the mother neglects them within the first three hours, I have to take them away and feed them so they don't suffer from hypothermia or hypoglycemia," he said.
The baby leopards are all black, a condition known as "melanism", which is common amongst the spotted cats. Black leopards, also known as panthers, are not a separate species, but the same species of leopard. The spots can still be seen, as dark black rosettes on a lighter dark brown background.
Their parents are an unnamed five-year-old male and a three year-old female called Hanah, who also live at the Zacango zoo.
"Both parents live at the zoo. The female was born here and the male was brought from another zoo (in the state of Morelos). The female is three-years-old, the male is five-years-old. Both are black, they are melanistic. But on many occasions although both are black, the cubs can turn out yellow. But we were lucky all three were born black, two males and one female," Frieven said.
Melanistic leopards and normal leopards have been known to occur in the same litter. Black leopards are more common in areas with denser trees.
The leopard inhabits the forests, mountains and grasslands of Africa and Asia. It can be found in all of sub-Saharan Africa and west of the Kalahari. They also occur in China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia, Nepal. It is abundant throughout its range, despite being extensively hunted for its beautifully spotted fur.
Hunting for their habitat have also taken their toll on the leopard, making many subspecies endangered. They are killed by farmers because they pose a threat to their livestock. They can be easily poisoned because they feed on carrion.
These little ones have now survived rearing by humans.
"They have grown and passed the critical stage of artificial rearing and will begin to be more independent. They are eating meat, we have stopped bottle-feeding them," said Manlio Nucamendi, veterinarian and zoo director.
Zacango Zoo which was opened in December 11, 1980, also has other reproduction programmes for endangered species including the Asian elephant, the puma, African lions, Bengal tigers, spider monkeys, gorillas and wolves.
The 1040 animals of 136 species (including 64 endangered species) at the 34-hectare (84-acre) zoo, set in 121 hectares of lush vegetation filled with monkey shrieks and birdsong, range from rhinocerous, hippos to flamingos. Many seem almost tame.
The zoo hopes to receive the birth of a puma in a month. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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