Los Angeles (AP) A severely endangered leopard species has perished at a zoo in Southern California.
After more than ten years at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert, Zoya, a 21-year-old Amur leopard, passed away last Tuesday from old age, according to zoo officials.
Zoya lived longer than the average Amur leopard, which is 10 to 15 years in the wild and 15 to 20 years in captivity. According to the zoo, Zoya was among the oldest leopards in the nation’s human care.
In 1996, the International Union for Conservation of Nature listed Amur leopards as critically endangered. They are indigenous to the highlands of northern China and eastern Russia, and in order to blend in with the snow, they have thicker fur and paler coats than other leopard species.
According to the WildCats Conservation Alliance, their wild population declined to less than 30 in the 1970s, making them one of the most endangered big cats in the world. The present population is thought to be around 100, however there has been a slight recovery in recent years.
According to zoo officials, Zoya maintained her agility and vigor despite aging and declining kidney function. According to officials, she liked lying on her rock with a view of the pond in the mornings and being high up where she could observe the visitors and warthogs.
In a statement, the zoo added, “As we commemorate Zoya’s life, we encourage you to enjoy the little things in life as she did.” Take some time to observe your natural environment. Have fun. Enjoy those unique, peaceful moments all day long.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, efforts have been made to prevent the illegal poaching of Amur leopards, preserve their natural habitat, and boost the number of prey animals like deer and wild boar.
The San Diego Zoo, the Santa Barbara Zoo, and the Minnesota Zoo are among the 94 institutions worldwide that are home to more than 200 Amur leopards. Last year, the San Diego Zoo welcomed its third litter of leopard babies.
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