Local News

On Apr. 14, the Fukuoka City Zoo announced the birth of three Tsushima leopard cats, a nationally protected species that it has been trying to breed. One of the kittens died after birth, but the other two are doing well. A zoo official said the birth was “extremely invaluable” as zoos around Japan have been having trouble breeding leopard cats due to aging.This was the first leopard cat birth in captivity since April 2011. Aside from the two newborns, there are currently 26 leopard cats in zoos around Japan, but only four are less than nine years old—the age thought to be the cut-off line for giving birth. For this reason, young leopard cats were placed at two zoos, Fukuoka and Kujukushima (Sasebo City, Nagasaki), to promote breeding. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun 4/14