• About BCR
  • News
  • News @ BCR
  • Rescues
  • Issues
  • Cat Laws
Tuesday, May 24, 2022
  • Login
  • Register
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
Home News World

Pa. zoo gets Amur leopard for AZA breeding program

Carole by BCR
March 2, 2010
in News World
0 0
0
0
SHARES
116
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

Published: February 28. 2010 12:01AM

Meet a unique leopard
By HEATHER CASS
heather.cass@timesnews.com

Meet Edgar, a handsome cat who has come all the way from Estonia to do nothing less than help save his species.

He plays it cool, of course, lounging around in the snow, lazily gazing at visitors. You’d never know that behind those spots and blue-gray eyes are million-dollar chromosomes.

“Genetically, he is one of the most important leopards in the country,” said Scott Mitchell, Erie Zoo president.

Edgar is an Amur leopard — one of the most endangered big cats in the world. Amur leopards are native to Korea, China and Russia.

“It’s estimated that there are less than 240 Amur leopards left in the world — 100 in European zoos, 80 in U.S. zoos, 10 in Canadian zoos and less than 30 in the wild,” said Cindy Kreider, Erie Zoo director.

The reason Edgar is so important is that his genes are not represented in any of the Amur leopard populations in the U.S. He was imported from Europe about 10 weeks ago along with another male Amur leopard that went to the Minnesota Zoo.

“Edgar and the other male are what the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan calls a ‘founder,'” said Kreider, who serves as vice chair of the Amur leopard SSP. “Their genes are unrepresented in the U.S., making their genetics extremely valuable in maintaining a healthy population.”

According to the AZA, the mission of the Species Survival Plan program “is to manage and conserve a select and typically threatened or endangered, ex situ species population with the required cooperation of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, certified related facilities, and approved nonmember participants.”

In plain English? The SSP keeps track of the gene pool for each endangered species. They manage the entire U.S. collection and decide which animals should and should not be bred.

Edgar is a prize acquisition for the Erie Zoo, which was chosen by the SSP to receive him because of its success in breeding Amur leopards.

“In the last several years, we’ve had 10 Amur leopard cubs,” Kreider said.

When asked why the Erie Zoo has been so successful in breeding these highly endangered big cats, Kreider gives credit to the Erie Zoo keepers who monitor the leopards carefully and, most importantly, provide the space they need to reproduce with minimal human interference.

“The cubbing box is set up with a camera and monitor system,” Kreider said. “We can see everything that is going on without having to disturb the mother or her cubs.”

So, how long before Edgar contributes to the U.S. Amur leopard gene pool?

“We don’t know that yet,” Kreider said. “At 2 years old, Edgar is just getting close to his breeding age. The SSP is still deciding who he is recommended to breed with. It may be recommended that we bring a female in from another zoo or he may be recommended to breed with our current Amur leopard, Tya.”

Some of that depends on whether the zoo’s pair of Amur leopards, Muran and Tya, produce a litter this year.

“They were recommended to breed again, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens there,” Kreider said.

While he waits for his mate, Edgar has been exploring his Erie Zoo exhibit and enjoying the snow. Visitors can see him in the jaguar exhibit right now.

“Most jaguars don’t care for the snow,” Kreider said. “But, Edgar loves it; it’s like his native habitat, and it doesn’t bother him at all.”

Sounds like Edgar’s going to love it in Erie.

HEATHER CASS can be reached at 870-1821 or at heather.cass@timesnews.com.

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100228/LIFESTYLES01/302289971/-1/LIFESTYLES

————

Learn more about big cats and Big Cat Rescue at http://bigcatrescue.org


Tags: News World
Previous Post

Radio collars to study tiger behaviour in Sunderbans

Next Post

Lion Roar! HD

Carole

BCR

Big Cat Rescue is Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade

Related Posts

News World

Enrichment Program @ BIG CAT RESCUE!

May 7, 2022
73
Zanesville Massacre 18 tigers 17 lions 3 cougars gunned down
News World

Zanesville Massacre 18 tigers 17 lions 3 cougars gunned down

October 20, 2021
9k
Vanessa Hudgens Shame
Cat Laws

Cub Petting Shame

September 12, 2021
5.9k
Snow Leopard
News @ BCR

Save Snow Leopards

April 17, 2021
4.6k
Be Safe Out There!
How To Start A Sanctuary

Rules

March 31, 2020
532
Next Post

Lion Roar! HD

Leave a Reply

  • Default Comments (0)
  • Facebook Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Help Feed Big Cats

One of the best ways to help is through general donations that can be used however it is most needed at the time.To make a general donation just click the Donate Now button below.  This is the best way to give as it has the lowest credit card processing fees and is immediate help for the cats.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Recent Articles

  • Makani bobcat May 24, 2022
  • Film May 9, 2022
  • Enrichment Program @ BIG CAT RESCUE! May 7, 2022

More From BigCatRescue

  • Big Cat Rescue is Live 24/7 on Webcams
  • Rescue Missions
  • About Big Cat Rescue
  • Big Cat Rescue News
  • Reviews
  • Our Recent Work
  • Sanctuary FAQs
  • Big Cat TV

Sanctuary Cats

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

Ways to Help

  • Newsletter SignUp
  • Donate Now
  • Shop
  • Wish List
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
  • View AMP Version

Save Big Cats

Donate to Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • About BCR
  • News @ BCR
  • Videos
  • Big Cat Facts
  • Cub Facts
  • Sanctuary Cats
  • Shop and Save Cats
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Abuse Issues
  • Contact Us

© Copyright 2021 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT

Add New Playlist