Two Amur Leopard Cubs Born; Global Population Under 130

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Yorkshire Wildlife Park celebrates the birth of two Amur leopard cubs, a vital boost for the world's rarest big cat with fewer than 100 left in the wild.

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Mother Kristen, 13, is now raising her second litter in two years, following the birth of Auckley in 2023 – just months after meeting father Drake.

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These newborns represent two of only nine Amur leopard births recorded worldwide in the past year, highlighting their critically endangered status.

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Weighing just 2-3 kilograms, the cubs will spend their first two months in the safety of Leopard Heights, the world's largest specialized enclosure.

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Park visitors will soon watch the cubs via live camera feeds before they venture into special nursery reserves designed to support breeding success.

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Wild Amur leopard numbers have climbed from just 30 in the 1970s to about 100 today, though poaching and habitat loss continue to threaten them.

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Conservation efforts now focus on international cooperation between Russia and China, with the ultimate aim of reintroducing captive-bred leopards.

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These lightning-fast predators can sprint at 37 mph and leap 19 feet horizontally – abilities that helped the species survive despite their small numbers.

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