News Release
 
Contact: Sondra Katzen, Public Relations, 708.688.8351, sondra.katzen@czs.org                                                                        
October 27, 2016
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Note: Images of the Amur leopard may be downloaded below.
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New Chicago Cub in Town
Critically Endangered Amur Leopard Born at Brookfield Zoo

            Brookfield, Ill. – There’s a new Chicago cub in town and he resides at Brookfield Zoo. An Amur leopard was born on July 22 and is currently behind the scenes bonding with his mom. It will be several weeks before zoo guests will be able to see him in his outdoor habitat at Big Cats. In the meantime, images can be viewed on the zoo’s Facebook page at facebook.com/brookfieldzoo.
            Since his birth, animal care staff have been monitoring the cub, who now weighs about 15 pounds, to ensure that he is healthy and meeting crucial developmental milestones.
            The Amur leopard is a critically endangered species with fewer than 70 individuals left in the wild. The biggest threats to these solitary animals are poaching; retribution hunting; a decrease in its habitat from fires, logging, and human settlement; and a decline in prey. This birth marks a crucial addition to the population and will help raise awareness about the importance of conservation and the threats this species faces in the wild.
 

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About the Chicago Zoological Society
The mission of the Chicago Zoological Society is to inspire conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature. The Chicago Zoological Society is a private nonprofit organization that operates Brookfield Zoo on land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. The Society is known throughout the world for its international role in animal population management and wildlife conservation. Its Center for the Science of Animal Care and Welfare is at the forefront of animal care that strives to discover and implement innovative approaches to zoo animal management. Brookfield Zoo is the first zoo in the world to be awarded the Humane Certified™ certification mark for the care and welfare of its animals, meeting American Humane Association’s rigorous certification standards. Open every day of the year, the zoo is located off First Avenue between the Stevenson (I-55) and Eisenhower (I-290) expressways and is also accessible via the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), Metra commuter line, CTA, and PACE bus service. For further information, visit CZS.org.