@tetrapod
Oh right ok thanks, yeah cites obviously got the dates scrambled.
Ah yes the old temporary Tortoise pen in the Savannah. Has been near impossible trying to remember for certainty if the memory of seeing a Tortoise there when was young (first tortoise ever saw) was actually looking at the Radiated Tortoises in their exhibit or the Greek/Spur-Thighed one in the little exhibit.
If remembering right too did you mention was normally only during the summer or school holidays that short lasting exhibit was there back then with the Greek or ST Tortoise?
@Zoofan15 @tetrapod
It's great that poor unfortunate Princess was able to mother raise Ishtar and Tiamat until they were over a year old before her tragic death.
Glad Ishtar and Tiamat had each other for company even though Leopards mainly solitary, though perhaps in captivity the sister company for one another was something they actually appreciated (obviously down to the individual personalities of each with some individuals making it clear they want solitude, talking about lots of animal species with that not only Leopards of course).
Somewhat surprised that they were never attempted to be introduced to other males in the region for potential mating and hopefully cubs but like you said Tetrapod the mid 90s was the regional lose of interest timeframe so guess that explains it (at first thought it was because the two of them were a bit inbred but then realised that considering the Sumatran Tiger program has gone ahead successfully with some minor forms of inbreeding albeit distant and not much in recent times, that probably was not a factor in why Ishtar or Tiamat were never given the chehcebti become mothers themselves).
The loss of interest in Persian Leopards was a real shame (but looking at the positives glad Sri Lankan Leopards are here and breeding successfully in our region apart from the loss at DDZ recently).
The timing of PLs being selected for phase out after death or transfer and no more breeding seemed to come along right as the regional Sumatran Tigers priority focus was gaining momentum (obviously very passionate about ST program in our region..just thought the bigger more financially resourced zoos could still of had the capacity to maintain Persian Leopards, though suppose too that Snow Leopards, although a different species sort of 'filled that niche' in the minds of some of the regional collection managers and TAG contributors am guessing).
