NASHVILLE, Tenn (WSMV) - A new baby has been born at the Nashville Zoo.
The zoo announced the birth of a female clouded leopard from the Neofelis nebulosa species.
The cub was born on Feb. 19 and is from the sixth litter born to mother and father leopards that have been paired together for mating since 2011. The zoo has raised more than 31 cubs overall born to 18 litters since 2009.
Clouded leopards are listed as “vulnerable” and protected in most range countries.
Precise data on population numbers in the wild is not known, but the reduced number of sightings suggests the species is in decline.
The zoo said the cub was recommended as part of the Clouded Leopard Species Survival Plan to move to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo to be paired with a mate, which hopes to eventually help improve the genetic diversity of the species for the future.
The two zoos have a long history of working together on clouded leopard conservation.
