Dartmoor Zoo are thrilled to announce Zeya is now in an on-show habitat, where the general public can finally get their first glimpse of the highly anticipated, Amur Leopard Cub.
One of only 15 Amur Leopards born globally in 2025, Zeya has been the talk of the city, with visitors eager to view the cub in person and as of Saturday 31st January, the wait is finally over! After initial vet checks and vaccinations, the decision was made to move Zeya and Mum Lena into Dartmoor Zoo’s on-show habitat on Monday 26th January, providing a couple of days for adjustment and continued welfare checks to ensure both Mum and cub are doing well in their new environment before public viewing commences.
CEO David Gibson commented: “Moving Mum Lena and cub Zeya into the main Amur Leopard enclosure here at Dartmoor Zoo is a momentous occasion. Our keepers have had the privilege of watching this incredibly important young Leopard grow up and explore the world around her over the last few months, but now our visitors will have the chance to share in this enjoyment and see how Zeya develops the skills and ability she will need in years to come.
We feel extremely proud to be able to play a small part in safeguarding the Amur Leopard for the future."
Amur Leopards are regarded as the world’s rarest Big Cat with only an estimated 120 left in the wild. This number has been slowly increasing in recent years due mainly to improved legal protection and enforcement in their range countries. For this reason, the IUCN categorises the Amur Leopard as being Critically Endangered.
Although it is not currently possible to consider re-introductions of animals into the wild, maintaining a healthy growing population of Amur Leopards within the world’s zoos is essential to ensuring the continuing recovery of this enigmatic and highly secretive predator.
The Amur Leopard is one of 9 species of Leopards known to mankind and they are a cold adapted species, meaning they can survive in the most challenging of conditions. Their thick coat allows them to stay active and hunt throughout the worst of the winter in the extreme North Eastern China and South Eastern Russia.
Although initial welfare checks are positive, Zeya is still adjusting to the move and exploring her new habitat, so we please ask guests to be calm, quiet and respectful when visiting our Amur Leopard family to enable them to feel comfortable and continue to thrive.
If you are able and willing, please donate towards more conservation projects like this, to help Dartmoor Zoo keep up the good fight!
To find out more about Dartmoor Zoo visit www.dartmoorzoo.org.uk.