Though generally, leopard cats are listed as Least Concern on IUCN Red List, in Taiwan, they are an endangered species that often make headlines when hit by a car while crossing a forest road. Henceforth, Taipei Zoo, the largest zoo in Taiwan, is one of several institutions offering medical attention to injured animals before releasing them back into the wild.
Source: Taipei Zoo
On 2nd March 2021, the zookeepers here celebrated an event that had never happened for 20 years: after recovering from injuries and mating with another injured leopard cat at the zoo named Xiao Yu, Ping Ping, a female leopard cat, sought a quiet place and gave birth to her three young around 6 p.m.
Xiao Yu, Source: Taipei Zoo
Xiao Yu, Source: Taipei Zoo
In the wild, a female leopard cat’s litter size varies between two and three kittens. However, the staff at Taipei had never seen newborn triplets coming to them for twenty years.
Source: Taipei Zoo
The eldest and also the first of the two females is named Mao Xiong, the second female is named Hu Lixiu, and their brother is named Hu Liwang.
Source: Taipei Zoo
Source: Taipei Zoo
Source: Taipei Zoo
Source: Taipei Zoo
Ping Ping received extra food and nutrients while the kittens were put under observation to see whether they were fed enough to grow up into healthy adult animals.
Source: Taipei Zoo
Shortly afterward, veterinarians noticed hormonal changes in the female, notifying them that she was expecting. In February 2022, Ping Ping successfully delivered another leopard cat baby. The number of leopard cats in Taiwan has reportedly fallen below 500. Therefore, any newborn of this species is a wonderful gift to all conservators and caretakers at Taipei Zoo.
Source: Taipei Zoo
Source: Taipei Zoo
Source: Taipei Zoo
Source: Taipei Zoo
Source: Taipei Zoo
Now, the leopard cat triplets grow up healthily and are looked after very carefully. Among them, Hu Liwang and Hu Lixiu have been trained and evaluated by the conservation team of the Unique Biological Research and Conservation Center. They are able to come back to wildlife.
Hu Lixiu, Source: Taipei Zoo
Source: Taipei Zoo
Hu Liwang, Source: Taipei Zoo
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