Leia is a 5-year-old Amur leopard and was born from a litter of three girls on 15th October 2017. She was born and raised at Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens, Great Yarmouth. On a frosty and snowy morning of 15th December, our team travelled to Thrigby Hall to pick up Leia, who is going to be an amazing new addition to the Sanctuary.
Leia is a beautiful and bold Amur leopard with gorgeous face markings and long whiskers! Her arrival to the Sanctuary was seamless; she left her crate with little hesitation and then got comfy in bed after the long journey.
Leia is part of the International Breeding Programme and will be partnered with our 3-year-old male Amur leopard, Luka. We hope that the two will help boost the numbers of Amur leopards in captivity, creating a safety net for the species if it were to go extinct in the wild.
Amur leopards are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List and are classed as the most endangered big cat in the world. There are approximately 80-100 Amur leopards left in the wild and around 215 worldwide in captivity. The species can be found in far-eastern Russia in the Amur valley. Their main threats faced in the wild is poaching, poaching for their prey, habitat destruction and with such a small population, natural disasters.
Leia has been at the Sanctuary for almost one week now. As anticipated, Leia is taking time to familiarise herself in her new surroundings, including her new neighbours, Luka and Xizi. We are sure that she will soon be exploring her enclosure and become more comfortable in her new home.
We are excited for you all to hopefully meet Leia the next time you visit the Sanctuary. Stay tuned for our latest updates of Leia on our social media!
Watch Leia arrival video HERE!
March 22, 2024
The new series kicks off with a double dose of excitement from the iconic San Diego Zoo and its breathtaking Safari Park in the USA. With over 15,000 animal residents, including Komodo dragons, Galapagos tortoises, and polar bears, get ready to come face to face with nature’s wonders. Join brothers – Aaron, Tyler, and Cam – as they embark on a fact-finding mission
The Big Cat Sanctuary is pleased to announce the newest addition to the family, Kuda, a Sri Lankan Rusty Spotted Cat. Kuda is 5 years old and was born on the 30th of April 2018 at Hamerton Zoo Park. He joined us on Tuesday 13th February after a smooth 3-hour journey from Hamerton.
The London Beach Country Hotel Spa and Golf Club have partnered with The Big Cat Sanctuary for many years and they offer benefits of an excellent charity scheme. The way it works is you are able to enjoy Sunday lunch, cream teas, lunches, dinners and even a round of golf and the full value of the food including the green fees for golf ate donated to The Big Cat Sanctuary as the charity of your choice.
