ERR News – An Amur leopard named Darla, a member of one of the most rare cat species in the world, gave birth in the Tallinn Zoo during the early morning hours of April 14.
One of the two male cubs was stillborn, but the other so far appears to be in healthy condition, the zoo has announced.
The occasion marks the third litter for Darla, who made history in 2007 when she produced the first Amur leopards ever born in captivity.
Zoologist Aleksei Turovski was quoted by rus.err.ee saying that the Amur leopard is currently the most rare predatory animal on the planet, with no more than 50 existing in the wild.
Tallinn Zoo officials say that the public will be able to visit the cub in about two and a half months, when it is able to walk and has had its vaccinations.
In the meantime, the leo-pards can be viewed live on the zoo's webcam.
Viewers will see that the dead cub has not been removed from the nest. Zoo representatives said that disturbing the mother at this stage is too dangerous, as she may harm the living cub.
"We cannot do anything but watch via webcam [too see] what will happen," said a zoo announcement. "We cannot exclude the possibility that the mother will eat her stillborn cub."
