By Heather Tuttle
But thanks to conservation groups and the Russian government, which has created a national park called Land of the Leopard that safeguards their habitat, this critically endangered species is on the rise. In just seven years, the population in the Russian Far East and North East China has doubled.
Last week, Melanie Kuse and Marianne Van Antwerp, two of the big cat keepers at Utah’s Hogle Zoo, talked about what we can do to help this species and answered questions from kids (and a few adults) that were submitted to the Deseret News.
How long are their teeth?
Considering the entire tooth doesn’t show, incisors are approximately 2 to 4 inches.
Do leopards brush their teeth? If so, what kind of toothpaste do you use? — Sean, 10
We don’t brush their teeth. There is an enzyme in raw meat that they eat that helps clean their teeth. Also we give them bones, and that will clean their teeth as well. Our vets do clean their teeth if they are in the hospital, and they do use toothpaste. Mint.
Do they eat grass? — Lillie, 3
They will gnaw on grass.
What color are their eyes? — Sean, 10
I’d say amber. Maybe pale yellow green, but amber.
Are they related to snow leopards? If so, how close? — Eliza, 10
Yes, but not that close.
What is the difference between Amur leopards and other leopards? — Landon, 8
Aside from geographic region they live in, they differ in size and coloring. Clouded leopards are the smallest of the leopards.
What does Amur mean? — Jackson, 6
Amur refers to the Amur River (located in eastern Mongolia).
How do they play? What do they do for fun? — Jackson, 6
Our leopard, Dmitri, is more scent-oriented rather than object. Other cats, such as the snow leopard, like batting the balls around. But anything Dmitri can smell interests him. All Spice is his favorite. Or rolling in fresh bark or hay.
What do Amur leopards eat for lunch? — Camille Krieger, 14, and Eliza, 10
We give them ground horsemeat, bones and sometimes rats.
What do they eat in the wild? — Kelsie, 11
Mostly deer. But if they come across a herd of cattle, they will attack. It’s easier pickings, so why wouldn’t they. But that causes a problem with the farmers.
Do they eat people? — Sean, 10
No.
Why are Amur leopards so aggressive? — Lexi Olsen, 14
They are only aggressive if they are threatened or backed into a corner. Their first instinct would be to run away.
About how many spots do the adult leopards have? — Brandon, 34
Hundreds. It would be difficult to count unless the leopard was unconscious.
Are their spots like snowflakes, no two alike? — Amy Joi
There might be similar spots, but no two leopards have the same patterning. It is one of the ways we can tell them apart.
How tall is it? — Ruby, 6
Dmitri is approximately 5 feet long and 100 pounds.
How many babies are born to a mother amur leopard?
Two or three. Not all will make it to adulthood. They stay with the mother about 18 months.
How do you get it into the zoo?
There are special transport companies for moving wild animals. Depending on where they are coming from they will go by plane or truck. Our leopard is from Minnesota, so he probably arrived by truck.
Is it the only big cat that is endangered?
No, but it is the most endangered of the big cats.
What/who are its natural enemies? (not including humans)
They share the same territory as Amur Tigers. They do a pretty good job of steering clear of each other. Possibly crocodiles if they are by a river bed.
Is there a particular reason they have become endangered? — Maureen
With such a small population, inbreeding is a problem. Eighty percent of their habitat disappeared between 1970-1983. Poaching, hunting as well as reduction in food supply are all factors.
Why has the population gone up? What conservation measures are in place to help it? — Amy Joi
They now have protected land and more camera traps to help count them. Groups are working to stop poaching and looking at relocation of some of the leopards to prevent inbreeding. There is also a plan to try to reintroduce some zoo population into the wild, but that will take some time.
If someone is caught wearing an Amur leopard coat, are they soundly beaten? — Amy Joi
There are laws that make it illegal to own or sell a leopard skin unless it is a vintage item. And then you must have paperwork to prove that.
What can we do to help it become less endangered? (give money?, etc.)
Vist Hogle Zoo. We support ALTA, the Amur Leopard and Tiger Alliance. Read the signs posted at the zoo. Word of mouth is the best way to spread awareness. Support conservation groups.
If there was one thing that we could teach to kids, it would be that there is only one world, and if they want these animals to survive they need to do something about it. Learn as much as you can about anything that interests you, but animals especially, because people expect these animals to be out in the wild and they expect to see them out in the wild. If there is no wild left, how can we see them?
(Unattributed questions were submitted by Mrs. Erickson’s third-grade class at Wasatch Elementary.)
Meet Utah's Hogle Zoo's Amur leopard
Name: Dmitri
Born: May 29, 2012, arrived at Hogle Zoo July 2013
Personality: Dmitri’s keepers describe him as playful, very smart and cautious. He likes to check everything out before diving in.
Fast facts:
Habitat: Temperate woodlands and forests
Length: 6 to 7 feet
Height: 18-31 inches
Weight: 60-150 lbs.
Average lifespan: 8-15 years
Wild diet: Wild boar, deer, wild sheep, small mammals and birds
SOURCE: www.hoglezoo.org
source
Deseret News
An Amur leopard has long legs that help them walk in the winter snow.
Heather Tuttle
The Amur leopard, also known as the Far East leopard,
is fighting for survival. In 2007, there were only 30 Amur leopards
left in the wild. Humans have encroached on their territory and poached
them for their beautiful spotted coats. Diminished population amongst
the cats also led to inbreeding and disease.But thanks to conservation groups and the Russian government, which has created a national park called Land of the Leopard that safeguards their habitat, this critically endangered species is on the rise. In just seven years, the population in the Russian Far East and North East China has doubled.
Last week, Melanie Kuse and Marianne Van Antwerp, two of the big cat keepers at Utah’s Hogle Zoo, talked about what we can do to help this species and answered questions from kids (and a few adults) that were submitted to the Deseret News.
How long are their teeth?
Considering the entire tooth doesn’t show, incisors are approximately 2 to 4 inches.
Do leopards brush their teeth? If so, what kind of toothpaste do you use? — Sean, 10
We don’t brush their teeth. There is an enzyme in raw meat that they eat that helps clean their teeth. Also we give them bones, and that will clean their teeth as well. Our vets do clean their teeth if they are in the hospital, and they do use toothpaste. Mint.
Do they eat grass? — Lillie, 3
They will gnaw on grass.
What color are their eyes? — Sean, 10
I’d say amber. Maybe pale yellow green, but amber.
Are they related to snow leopards? If so, how close? — Eliza, 10
Yes, but not that close.
What is the difference between Amur leopards and other leopards? — Landon, 8
Aside from geographic region they live in, they differ in size and coloring. Clouded leopards are the smallest of the leopards.
What does Amur mean? — Jackson, 6
Amur refers to the Amur River (located in eastern Mongolia).
How do they play? What do they do for fun? — Jackson, 6
Our leopard, Dmitri, is more scent-oriented rather than object. Other cats, such as the snow leopard, like batting the balls around. But anything Dmitri can smell interests him. All Spice is his favorite. Or rolling in fresh bark or hay.
What do Amur leopards eat for lunch? — Camille Krieger, 14, and Eliza, 10
We give them ground horsemeat, bones and sometimes rats.
What do they eat in the wild? — Kelsie, 11
Mostly deer. But if they come across a herd of cattle, they will attack. It’s easier pickings, so why wouldn’t they. But that causes a problem with the farmers.
Do they eat people? — Sean, 10
No.
Why are Amur leopards so aggressive? — Lexi Olsen, 14
They are only aggressive if they are threatened or backed into a corner. Their first instinct would be to run away.
About how many spots do the adult leopards have? — Brandon, 34
Hundreds. It would be difficult to count unless the leopard was unconscious.
Are their spots like snowflakes, no two alike? — Amy Joi
There might be similar spots, but no two leopards have the same patterning. It is one of the ways we can tell them apart.
How tall is it? — Ruby, 6
Dmitri is approximately 5 feet long and 100 pounds.
How many babies are born to a mother amur leopard?
Two or three. Not all will make it to adulthood. They stay with the mother about 18 months.
How do you get it into the zoo?
There are special transport companies for moving wild animals. Depending on where they are coming from they will go by plane or truck. Our leopard is from Minnesota, so he probably arrived by truck.
Is it the only big cat that is endangered?
No, but it is the most endangered of the big cats.
What/who are its natural enemies? (not including humans)
They share the same territory as Amur Tigers. They do a pretty good job of steering clear of each other. Possibly crocodiles if they are by a river bed.
Is there a particular reason they have become endangered? — Maureen
With such a small population, inbreeding is a problem. Eighty percent of their habitat disappeared between 1970-1983. Poaching, hunting as well as reduction in food supply are all factors.
Why has the population gone up? What conservation measures are in place to help it? — Amy Joi
They now have protected land and more camera traps to help count them. Groups are working to stop poaching and looking at relocation of some of the leopards to prevent inbreeding. There is also a plan to try to reintroduce some zoo population into the wild, but that will take some time.
If someone is caught wearing an Amur leopard coat, are they soundly beaten? — Amy Joi
There are laws that make it illegal to own or sell a leopard skin unless it is a vintage item. And then you must have paperwork to prove that.
What can we do to help it become less endangered? (give money?, etc.)
Vist Hogle Zoo. We support ALTA, the Amur Leopard and Tiger Alliance. Read the signs posted at the zoo. Word of mouth is the best way to spread awareness. Support conservation groups.
If there was one thing that we could teach to kids, it would be that there is only one world, and if they want these animals to survive they need to do something about it. Learn as much as you can about anything that interests you, but animals especially, because people expect these animals to be out in the wild and they expect to see them out in the wild. If there is no wild left, how can we see them?
(Unattributed questions were submitted by Mrs. Erickson’s third-grade class at Wasatch Elementary.)
Meet Utah's Hogle Zoo's Amur leopard
Name: Dmitri
Born: May 29, 2012, arrived at Hogle Zoo July 2013
Personality: Dmitri’s keepers describe him as playful, very smart and cautious. He likes to check everything out before diving in.
Fast facts:
Habitat: Temperate woodlands and forests
Length: 6 to 7 feet
Height: 18-31 inches
Weight: 60-150 lbs.
Average lifespan: 8-15 years
Wild diet: Wild boar, deer, wild sheep, small mammals and birds
SOURCE: www.hoglezoo.org
source
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