Ajax

  • Born May 2014 at Marwell Zoo in Hampshire, England
  • Arrived at Santa Barbara Zoo in August 2016 to hopefully help diversify the gene pool of Amur leopards in North America
  • Is a climber – loves to be up high, on the ledges and rock wall
  • Has a round face with an upside-down “v” between her eyes, and only one large spot between the large dark marks above her eyes
  • Gave birth to cub Marta on August 6, 2021

Marta

  • Born August 6, 2021 at the Santa Barbara Zoo to parents Ajax and Kasha
  • Weighed in at 1.1 lbs at her first medical exam
  • At one-and-a-half, Marta has reached the age when she would separate from her mother to live a solitary life in the wild
  • The Amurs are most likely not out in the habitat at the same time right now

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What’s in a Name?

They’ve been called the Korean leopard, Far East leopard, and Manchurian leopard – all echo their historic ranges, which span the Korean Peninsula into northeast China’s Jilin and Heilongjiang Provinces, and across the border into the Russian Far East and Amur River basin, from which the species now takes its name. That region – and the species’ name – is pronounced “AH-moor,” rather than “AY-murr.”

Conservation Status

Only around 50 Amur leopards are estimated to remain in the wild, in a small area between Vladivostok, Russia, and the Chinese border, along with a few scattered individuals in China.

Approximately 200 Amur leopards are in captivity, primarily in zoos in North America, Europe, and former Soviet Union countries.

But there’s good news: Russia’s Ministry of Natural Resources has approved a reintroduction program in a preserve in the southeastern tip of Russia. Pairs of breeding Amur leopards from zoos will be relocated to Russia, and hopes are that the wild population will increase in the next 20 years.

Use Certified Lumber!

In today’s global economy, much of the wood we use comes from forests around the world. You can help forest-dwelling animals by choosing lumber and paper products made using sustainable practices. For more information, please visit the Forest Stewardship Council.