Australasian Leopard Population

Zoofan15

Zoofan15

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
Australasian Leopard Population

Leopards are held across three facilities in Australasia - one holds a generic leopard and the other two hold Sri Lankan leopards.

The Sri Lankan leopards are part of the European Breeding Programme. They include four founders and two young males, who were the first of their species born in Australasia.

Adelaide Zoo has expressed an interest in holding Sri Lankan leopard in the future.


Generic Leopard Population

Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary, New Zealand:

1.0 Mandla (01/10/2002 Heythrop Zoological Gardens) Imported 2005

Total regional population: 1.0 leopards



Sri Lankan Leopard Population

National Zoo and Aquarium, Australia:

1.0 Ankesh (born 13/08/2016 Santillana Zoo) Imported 2019
0.1 Yakalla (born 20/05/2011 Parc des Félins) Imported 2019
1.0 Asanka (born 24/12/2020 National Zoo and Aquarium) Ankesh x Yakalla
1.0 Chatura (born 24/12/2020 National Zoo and Aquarium) Ankesh x Yakalla

Darling Downs Zoo, Australia:

1.0 Ecko (born 16/07/2016 Valencia Bioparc) Imported 2021
0.1 Maysha (born 13/03/2017 Zoobotánico Jerez) Imported 2021

Total regional population: 4.2 leopards


I’d like to thank @Steve Robinson for details on the Sri Lankan leopards held at Darling Downs Zoo and for his initiative in undertaking the region’s most exciting import of 2021. I wish Darling Downs Zoo every success in breeding these magnificent cats.
 
On a personal note, I’d like to say how exciting it’s been to witness the founding of the Sri Lankan leopard breeding programme in Australasia, with the arrival of two pairs at the Canberra National Zoo and Darling Downs Zoo in 2019 and 2021 respectively; and the birth of the first litter in December 2020.

The founders of our Sumatran tiger breeding programme were imported before many of us were even born and African lions have been held in Australia for over a century; so to see history being made through the genesis of this breeding programme has been a humbling experience.
 
Historical Persian Leopard Population

I was interested to learn more about the Persian leopards held in our region and have come across the following information:

Adelaide Zoo

Adelaide Zoo imported 1.2 Persian leopard between 1980-1981:

0.1 Ashraf
Born at Berlin Zoo 24/12/1979
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 22/05/1980
Fate Unknown

1.0 Prince
Born at Cincinnati 30/10/1980
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 01/10/1981
Fate Unknown

0.1 Princess
Born at Cincinnati Zoo 31/10/1980
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 01/10/1981
Sent to Perth Zoo 24/10/1984

Prince and Ashraf produced the following offspring:

1.0 Fury
Born at Adelaide Zoo 02/02/1984
Sent to Perth Zoo 25/10/1984

0.1 Farah
Born at Adelaide Zoo 13/04/1985
Sent to Bristol Zoo 31/10/1985

0.1 Miranda
Born at Adelaide Zoo 29/05/1986
Sent to Edinburgh Zoo 19/02/1987

Another female was imported in 1985:

0.1 Gloriana
Born at Bristol Zoo 31/07/1984
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 29/11/1985
Fate Unknown

Prince and Gloriana produced the following offspring:

0.1 Badoura
Born at Adelaide Zoo 04/10/1989
Sent to Münster Zoo 01/10/1990

0.1 Sadira
Born at Adelaide Zoo 04/10/1989
Sent to Münster Zoo 03/10/1990

0.1 Shiraz
Born at Adelaide Zoo 30/11/1991
Sent to Melbourne Zoo 05/06/1992

0.1 Kashmar
Born at Adelaide Zoo 30/11/1991
Sent to Melbourne Zoo 05/06/1992

1.0 Ambar
Born at Adelaide Zoo 08/11/1992
Died at Adelaide Zoo 10/04/2010

1.0 Sirjan
Born at Adelaide Zoo 08/11/1992
Fate Unknown

1.0 Tabriz
Born at Adelaide Zoo 08/11/1992
Sent to Aalborg Zoo 03/03/1994

Perth Zoo

Perth Zoo received 1.1 Persian leopard in 1984:

0.1 Princess
Born at Cincinnati Zoo 31/10/1980
Arrived at Perth Zoo 24/10/1984 (via Adelaide Zoo)
Died at Perth Zoo 00/07/1988

1.0 Fury
Born at Adelaide Zoo 02/02/1984
Arrived at Perth Zoo 25/10/1984
Sent to Crocodylus Park 00/08/2001

Fury and Princess produced the following offspring:

0.1 Ishtar
Born at Perth Zoo 10/01/1987
Sent to Crocodylus Park 00/08/2001

0.1 Tiamat
Born at Perth Zoo 10/01/1987
Sent to Crocodylus Park 00/08/2001

Melbourne Zoo

Melbourne Zoo received 0.2 Persian leopard in 1992:

0.1 Shiraz
Born at Adelaide Zoo 30/11/1991
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 05/06/1992
Died at Melbourne Zoo < 00/11/2005

0.1 Kashmar
Born at Adelaide Zoo 30/11/1991
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 05/06/1992
Died at Melbourne Zoo 00/07/2013

Notes

This isn’t a complete list of Persian leopards held in Australasia. A study of kidney disease in felids notes that 19 Persian leopards have been held in Australian zoos, of which 16 are recorded here.

The study notes the following number of Persian leopards were born per decade: < 1975 = 1 leopard; 1975-1984 = 4 leopards; 1985-1994 = 14 leopards; > 1994 = 0 leopards. Since we know there were 5 leopards born between 1975-1984 (not 4), it’s possible the 1 recorded prior to 1975 was a mistake and should have been recorded in the second bracket.

The study notes 2 of the 14 births between 1985-1994 died aged 0-6 months. I haven’t been able to find any details on these cubs, but they were likely littermates of the 1985 or 1986 Adelaide litters that otherwise would have contained a single cub.

This leaves one Persian leopard unaccounted for that was born between 1985-1994 and survived to at least 6 months of age.

Perth Zoo advised their remaining 1.2 Persian leopards were sent to Crocodylus Park (together) in August 2001, though some people on here have stated the male was sent the following year. If anyone can confirm the exact date, I will put in a request for this to be edited, but have otherwise kept it at August 2001.

The four at Adelaide Zoo listed as Fate Unknown were implied to have died at Adelaide Zoo, but I don’t have confirmation of this or a death date for these leopards.
 
tetrapod said:
Princess was unfortunately killed by Fury when the two were paired together. Not sure whether this was accidental or keeper error getting the timing wrong. The twin daughters used the same enclosure as Fury in a time share, never mixing.
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It’s a great shame considering they’d previously been paired successfully, producing twins.

I’m wondering if Ashraf at Adelaide Zoo suffered a similar fate as she disappeared from records after producing her third litter at the age of six.

Curiously, Adelaide Zoo imported a new female in 1985 (who subsequently bred with Ashraf’s mate) before her death (Ashraf produced cubs in 1986). I’m not sure what the intention was here as zoos weren’t as preoccupied with genetic diversity as they are now.
 
Update on Perth Zoo’s phase out:

Thanks to @steveroberts for confirming he saw Fury at Perth Zoo upon his visit in August 2002; but not on his visit in September 2002, when he was advised by staff Fury had just left for Crocodylus Park.

It appears Perth Zoo’s records department were mistaken in saying all three leopards were sent to Crocodylus Park in August 2001, as this is also contradicted in their annual report for that year:

As part of the collection planning process, the Zoo decided that its three leopards should be phased out of the collection in line with the Australasian region’s priority on breeding other endangered cat species.The two female Persian Leopards were transferred to Crocodylis Park in the Northern Territory in August 2001. The remaining male is awaiting placement at another zoo.

https://perthzoo.wa.gov.au/PerthZoo...orts/CORP_Perth-Zoo-Annual-Report_2001-02.pdf
 
Tigergal said:
Are we able to list the snow/clouded leopards in the region in here too? Or do they have another thread I’ve missed? Thanks!
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We have a thread for Snow leopard, which can be found here:

Australasian Snow Leopard Population

Snow leopard aren’t closely related to regulation leopards (they’re more closely related to tigers), so we decided they’d have seperate threads. Though it’s been interesting to see the effect they’ve had on each other with zoos like the National Zoo phasing one out for the other.

To date, Clouded leopard don’t currently have a thread given there’s only two at the country (both living at the same facility) and there hasn’t really been anything to report.

We always welcome people starting new population threads though, so if you had another idea for one, feel free to send a group PM to @Zoofan15, @WhistlingKite24, @akasha and @Patrick Keegan. :)
 
Zoofan15 said:
We have a thread for Snow leopard, which can be found here:

Australasian Snow Leopard Population

Snow leopard aren’t closely related to regulation leopards (they’re more closely related to tigers), so we decided they’d have seperate threads. Though it’s been interesting to see the effect they’ve had on each other with zoos like the National Zoo phasing one out for the other.

To date, Clouded leopard don’t currently have a thread given there’s only two at the country (both living at the same facility) and there hasn’t really been anything to report.

We always welcome people starting new population threads though, so if you had another idea for one, feel free to send a group PM to @Zoofan15, @WhistlingKite24, @akasha and @Patrick Keegan. :)
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Thanks Zoofan! :)
 
Birth Announcement:

As reported in the Darling Downs news thread, they've welcomed the birth of two Sri Lankan leopards. A huge achievement for the zoo and the regional breeding programme.

This is only the second birth of the species in the history of the region.

Gender to be confirmed but hopefully a female in the litter to form a potential pair with one of the males from the National Zoo at a third facility.
 
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Zoofan15 said:
Birth Announcement:

As reported in the Darling Downs news thread, they've welcomed the birth of two Sri Lankan leopards. A huge achievement for the zoo and the regional breeding programme.

This is only the second birth of the species in the history of the region.

Gender to be confirmed but hopefully a female in the litter to form a potential pair with one of the males from the National Zoo at a third facility.
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Great news!

Hopefully if there is a female in this litter, a new pairing can be created with one of the males from the National Zoo litter.

Adelaide plan to hold them in the future, and even zoos like Melbourne and Mogo could also get on board with the breeding program as well. Sri Lankan Leopard appear to be the next focus leopard species for Australia following the phase out of Snow Leopards by most of the holders within the region.
 
Jambo said:
Great news!

Hopefully if there is a female in this litter, a new pairing can be created with one of the males from the National Zoo litter.

Adelaide plan to hold them in the future, and even zoos like Melbourne and Mogo could also get on board with the breeding program as well. Sri Lankan Leopard appear to be the next focus leopard species for Australia following the phase out of Snow Leopards by most of the holders within the region.
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I believe one was a female but I am not 100 percent sure
 
Zorro said:
I believe one was a female but I am not 100 percent sure
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If so, she would be the first female of her species born in the region.

Darling Downs Zoo deserve additional praise for the speedy introduction and successful breeding of these cats. Clearly an indication of an owner and staff who have the expertise and experience to manage these introductions; combined with a well socialised and compatible pair.
 
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Zoofan15 said:
If so, she would be the gost female of her species born in the region.

Darling Downs Zoo deserve additional praise for the speedy introduction and successful breeding of these cats. Clearly an indication of an owner and staff who have the expertise and experience to manage these introductions; combined with a well socialised and compatible pair.
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I believe they have a deep understanding of cat behaviour which would be why they are having so much success with the species they have. I believe any zoo within the region that wishes to keep them needs to be in the EEP program before they can be a holder for them
 
Zorro said:
I believe any zoo within the region that wishes to keep them needs to be in the EEP program before they can be a holder for them
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Yes that’s correct, with the Australasian holders of Sri Lankan leopard functioning as an extension to the EEP programme. This means the offspring bred here may have matches made with leopards in European zoos; though it’s commonsense to allocate Australasia two unrelated pairs with the intention of pairing at least one of their respective offspring with each other from a logistical perspective.

Adelaide will presumably be looking to join the EEP in the near future; and possibly Melbourne and Mogo.

By the time we get to five holders, we’ll likely be looking at an import of at least one more founder.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Yes that’s correct, with the Australasian holders of Sri Lankan leopard functioning as an extension to the EEP programme. This means the offspring bred here may have matches made with leopards in European zoos; though it’s commonsense to allocate Australasia two unrelated pairs with the intention of pairing at least one of their respective offspring with each other from a logistical perspective.

Adelaide will presumably be looking to join the EEP in the near future; and possibly Melbourne and Mogo.

By the time we get to five holders, we’ll likely be looking at an import of at least one more founder.
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Five holders would be awesome but they need to join the eep sooner than later
 
Zorro said:
Five holders would be awesome but they need to join the eep sooner than later
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It could take a while to reach this stage. For example, this is the progression of the Sumatran tiger breeding programme:

1979: First Holder (Taronga Zoo)
1979: Second Holder (Melbourne)
1992: Third Holder (Wellington)
1994: Fourth Holder (Perth)
1995: Fifth Holder (Adelaide)

Adelaide Zoo haven’t even begun constructing their exhibit; while Mogo Zoo likely won’t receive this species until their Snow leopard passes (if it’s their intention to acquire them).
 
Zoofan15 said:
It could take a while to reach this stage. For example, this is the progression of the Sumatran tiger breeding programme:

1979: First Holder (Taronga Zoo)
1979: Second Holder (Melbourne)
1992: Third Holder (Wellington)
1994: Fourth Holder (Perth)
1995: Fifth Holder (Adelaide)

Adelaide Zoo haven’t even begun constructing their exhibit; while Mogo Zoo likely won’t receive this species until their Snow leopard passes (if it’s their intention to acquire them).
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Then it would be safe to assume they have little interest in them :(
 
Zorro said:
Then it would be safe to assume they have little interest in them :(
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Don’t give up hope just yet! Adelaide have accommodated them in their masterplan and there’s no indication so far that they’ve been scrapped. I was told their intention is to receive a male and female from within the region, so it’ll be a few years before that’s possible (assuming there’s a female within DDZ’s new litter).

A male-female litter at Darling Downs Zoo could combine with the two males born at Canberra to give a third facility a breeding pair; and a fourth and fifth facility a single male.

As the regional population grows, their availability will increase. There’s several zoos that probably wouldn’t undertake the effort required to import from Europe, but would happily receive one from within the region as they become available.
 
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