Zootails 41

ZooTails 41

What’s 12 weeks old, weighs 7 kilos and can reduce your house to a total wreck in record time? It’s “Roo” - the baby Persian Leopard! This innocent little whirlwind was born to “Adar” shortly after her arrival from Slovenia. The pregnancy was a surprise to everyone, as it was been thought she had been removed from contact with the male before she was fertile. One morning shortly after the two new females were let out into the new Adar Fundaminsky Leopard Exhibit, a passing staff member saw what he thought was a cat in the enclosure. He called Dennis, the carnivore keeper, who went to check and was startled to see a tiny cub! The little newborn seemed to be fine, strong and normal sized. After separating him from the females, the cub was cleaned and checked. He was then placed back with the mother. Dennis spent the next five hours closely monitoring the pair via closed circuit television, but unfortunately, the mother showed no interest in the little fellow, although she showed no aggression towards him. A decision was made to remove him for hand raising.

Little “Roo” spent his first night with Yud, the zoo’s head keeper, but bright and early the next morning he was transferred to the hospital unit. This 500-gram ball of fur kept us all hopping, as he needed to be fed every two hours around the clock. So, at 15:00, the two of us went home, armed with kitten milk replacer, several different baby bottles, assorted towels and a small cat carrier. Did I mention I live on the 3rd floor in a rather large apartment building together with a Patagonian Conure and an elderly rescue cat?
From the beginning, “Roo” was very vocal and it took less than 24 hours for my conure to learn to imitate his demanding squeals for food. It took even less time for my cat to decide she was not amused. The joys of leopard foster-motherhood are many. Leopard moms, like all cats, spend a great deal of time licking and cleaning their young, to ensure proper digestion and elimination. This foster mom was no different, except I used damp gauze - Lots and lots of damp gauze. Roo is growing quickly. He now sleeps all night.
He eats canned kitten food and meat. He runs and plays in the house, dragging his toys around as if they were prey. He pulls things off shelves. Like most babies he is fascinated with electrical cords, which required some interesting changes in power supplies to things electric.
Joining me in playing foster-mom, Dr. Liz Kaufman, a zoo vet. Liz has a back yard and “Roo” loves playing in the dirt, hiding in the bushes and occasionally rushing out to ambush her kids and granddaughter. He does not like rain!

Beverly Burge – Hospital/Quarantine Unit

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