PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium welcomed a new baby Amur leopard to their family over the past month.
After a gestation period of 93 days, Candy, an Amur leopard at the zoo, gave birth to her first-ever cub on Feb. 4.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7LPoXsaWoc&feature=youtu.be
“This tiny creature that is barely able to move around is having a major impact on the Amur leopard population,” Dr. Barbara Baker, CEO of the Pittsburgh Zoo, said.
Amur leopards are currently endangered with about 70 remaining in the wild, according to the zoo.
“We were watching and waiting,” said the zoo’s lead carnivore keeper Kathy Suthard.
Suthard and the rest of the zoo’s staff suspected that labor was on the horizon after noticing changes in her diet.
“We noticed that Candy wasn’t interested in food and appeared to be uncomfortable and we thought she might be in labor. When we saw her go into the nesting den it was clear it was time,” Suthard said.
Zookeepers tuned into the camera inside the leopard’s den to begin looking for the new cub.
“When we spotted the tiny cub, everyone gave a huge sigh of relief,” said Dr. Ginger Sturgeon, the zoo’s director of animal health.
Both the mother and cub will be monitored by the veterinary staff and keepers to ensure things are going well for the two. Now, both leopards remain inside their nesting box.
On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium shared its first photo of the cub on its Facebook page with the caption, "Little but fierce. Meet our newest addition."
Little but fierce. Meet our newest addition.
Posted by Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium on Thursday, February 25, 2016