Leopard Cubs Abandoned by Mother, Veterinary Checkup Livestreamed
On March 18, 2020, veterinarians at the Pittsburgh Zoo in Pennsylvania conducted a full-body checkup on two leopard cubs, each over three months old. To attract public attention and promote the conservation of this beautiful and endangered wild cat species, the entire examination process was livestreamed and made public. In the video, the two leopard cubs interacted closely with the veterinarians, appearing lively and adorable.
These two leopard cubs were born on November 27, 2019, to a female leopard named 'Shaya' who had a second cub. As is well known, leopards are extremely sensitive cats, and female leopards that have just given birth are particularly sensitive to their environment. Although female leopard Shaya showed some maternal instinct towards the cubs shortly after they were born, she soon abandoned them. These two leopard cubs, deprived of their mother's care, were subsequently successfully raised entirely under human care. Their healthy growth and development have poured countless hearts of the zoo's staff.
Now, the gender of the two leopard cubs can be distinguished, and they are both male. They have also been given names, Lin and Jia Luo. In the examination video, the zoo's chief veterinarian, Dr. Ginger Stockman, and her assistant, Libby, collaborated to conduct a series of checks on them, including dental health, heart rate measurement, and limb mobility, and then administered three vaccinations to protect them from common viral infections.
Throughout the examination, the two leopard cubs showed trust and dependence on the veterinarians. However, do not underestimate their vitality. During the vaccination process, due to the unavoidable stinging sensation, they struggled fiercely, 'yowling' loudly, which was both heartbreaking and funny. Although they were only three months and a few months old, their four large paws already looked very strong and robust, and their fluffy markings were very beautiful, plus their almost body-length tails, they were beginning to show their characteristic skills of climbing in forests and concealment.
Leopards are the smallest cat species in the leopard subfamily. They appear exceptionally beautiful. However, their beautiful fur and bones, said to be used as 'drugs', have been coveted by many poachers, causing leopards to become a major target for poachers after tigers and lions. Today, leopard fur is even more common than tiger fur in some black markets in Asia. This undoubtedly accelerates the pace of leopards towards extinction.
Therefore, the artificial breeding of leopards is of great significance for the future of leopards. It not only helps scientists understand various leopard habits, but also to a certain extent preserves the genetic diversity of the leopard population, and slows down their disappearance from the earth. Although there are still many difficulties in the current artificial breeding of leopards, it is still worth exploring by scientists.
