On Friday, November 7, 2025, Dartmoor Zoo announced the birth of their first Amur Leopard cub. The cub was born on Monday, September 29, 2025, to proud parents Lena and Freddo. Lena, who arrived at Dartmoor Zoo from Colchester Zoo in August 2024, had a successful introduction with Freddo on April 29, 2025. Since then, the pair has been inseparable and has been observed engaging in mutual grooming and mating.
According to the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS), the cub is one of only 15 Amur Leopards born globally in 2025. This is a significant milestone for both Dartmoor Zoo and global conservation efforts for the Critically Endangered Amur Leopard species.
David Gibson, CEO of Dartmoor Zoo, expressed his excitement about the birth, stating, “The birth of our first Amur Leopard cub here at Dartmoor Zoo is the culmination of several years of planning and hard work. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that we are making a significant contribution to the survival of the most endangered big cat in the world.” Gibson also highlighted the importance of maintaining a healthy and growing population of Amur Leopards in zoos in order to ensure the continued recovery of this enigmatic and highly secretive predator.
The Amur Leopard is considered the world’s rarest Big Cat, with only an estimated 120 left in the wild. However, this number has been slowly increasing in recent years due to improved legal protection and enforcement in their range countries. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorizes the Amur Leopard as Critically Endangered.
The funding for conservation efforts for this species largely comes from zoos. In 2024, the international zoo community contributed over $160,000 to help protect the Amur Leopard.
The WildCats Conservation Alliance commented on the importance of zoos in protecting the Amur Leopard, stating, “Zoos are an essential safety net for Amur leopards, the world’s rarest big cat.” They also acknowledged Dartmoor Zoo’s contribution to conservation efforts, saying, “Through WildCats Conservation Alliance, Dartmoor Zoo is funding impact-driven conservation in the Amur leopard’s wild habitat, so this cub helps maintain the genetic safety net for future reintroduction while also driving fundraising that powers conservation on the ground.”
Katharina Herrmann, Wildlife Conservation Coordinator for Zoologischer Garten Berlin AG and Amur leopard EEP Coordinator, also emphasized the significance of every Amur Leopard birth. She stated, “Every Amur leopard birth is a significant achievement for the survival of this critically endangered species. With only an estimated 120 individuals left in the wild, each cub born under human care represents an important step towards securing the future of one of the rarest cats on Earth.”
To ensure that the cub receives the best care, Lena and Freddo were separated a few days before the expected arrival of the cub. Initial observations show that Lena is calm, in good spirits, and already showing signs of motherly intuition. Fenceline encounters between Freddo and the cub have been positive, showing signs of interest, attentiveness, and a calm demeanor towards Lena and their cub. The enclosure will remain off-show during this time to allow the family time to adjust. Announcements will be made in due course regarding when the public can view the cub.
Madeleine Millin, Animal Manager at Dartmoor Zoo, expressed her joy at the successful breeding of their Amur Leopards, saying, “We are absolutely delighted that our Amur Leopards have bred successfully, and a cub has been born to mother Lena and father Freddo on September 29. It has been a rewarding journey for Lena to settle and be comfortable with her keepers and new home here at Dartmoor.” Millin also praised Lena for being a fantastic first-time mother, stating, “She is very attentive and protective, reassuringly licking [the cub] and going to retrieve it when it wanders off too far!” She also mentioned that the entire keeper team is excited and proud to watch the cub grow and thrive.
The successful breeding of the Amur Leopards at Dartmoor Zoo would not have been possible without the support, guidance, and trust of the EEP Coordinators, the dedicated keeper team, and the generous funding from one of their Trustees, Simon Almond. Simon Almond also expressed his joy and pride in the achievement, saying, “My family and I are thrilled to have had a small part in this success, but the credit is to all our amazing team and the breeding program that believed in us.”
In celebration of this milestone, Dartmoor Zoo invites everyone to donate towards more conservation projects like this to help them continue their efforts in preserving endangered species. To find out more about
