Dartmoor Zoo to open their gates to the world's rarest cat
The Amur Leopard will arrive next week
Dartmoor Zoo are preparing to welcome the rarest cat in the world next week.
The long-awaited Amur Leopard arrival date has been confirmed and will become the zoo's newest resident on Tuesday 14th November.
Arriving from Bellewaerde in Belgium, the critically endangered Amur Leopard named Fredo (pronounced Fray-doh) which translates to ‘cold’ or ‘chilly’ to represent his habitat and their adaptability to thrive in cold climates.
With less than 100 left in the wild, these leopards are considered the rarest cat in the world.
After monitoring Fredo’s behaviour to ensure he has adjusted well to his new home, the zoo will announce details to the public as to when his enclosure will be open for viewing.
Dartmoor Zoo’s CEO Benjamin Mee commented:
“We are incredibly excited about the arrival of Fredo. The team at Dartmoor Zoo have been working extremely hard to make this vision a reality and to have an arrival date in our sights is fantastic. Although captive born, Fredo is vital in assisting with the preservation and education of this critically endangered species, ensuring their survival for many generations to come. Our next steps will focus on finding a suitable female match for a potential breeding recommendation, further promoting genetic diversity. With many challenges facing these wonderful animals such as poaching and habitat loss, we are honoured to play a part in the global conservation efforts to protect this species from extinction.”