The Santa Barbara Zoo has introduced the community to Tamur (pronounced tuh-MOOR), a five-year-old male Amur leopard.
Tamur arrived from the San Diego Zoo as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). Amur leopards are the most endangered big cat on earth, the zoo said.
Tamur’s arrival marks an new chapter in the zoo’s commitment to conservation and education, according to the Santa Barbara Zoo.
The move was recommended by the AZA’s SSP, a collaborative program designed to maintain a genetically diverse and stable population of animals in human care, with the ultimate goal of supporting species conservation efforts worldwide.
“Welcoming Tamur is a powerful reminder of the critical conservation work we do here every day,” said Dr. Julie Barnes, vice president of Animal Care at the Santa Barbara Zoo.
“The Santa Barbara Zoo is deeply committed to protecting endangered species like the Amur leopard. Every animal move is carefully planned with the future of the species in mind, and we’re proud to play a role in helping ensure their survival,” Dr. Barnes said.
While Tamur is still acclimating to his new habitat and may not always be visible, Zoo guests are encouraged to stop by and welcome him during their next visit, Dr. Barnes said.
In related news, the zoo’s beloved Amur leopards Marta and her mother Ajax have recently departed Santa Barbara to contribute to the conservation mission at other AZA-accredited institutions.
Marta, born Aug. 6, 2021 made history as the first Amur leopard born at the Santa Barbara Zoo in more than 20 years. She now lives at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in Ohio, where she will play a key role in the genetic health of the population.
Marta’s mother Ajax, recognized as one of the most genetically valuable female Amur leopards in North America, also moved to a new home at the Nashville Zoo as part of the SSP’s ongoing efforts.
Tamur is sponsored by Premier Foster Feeders Marta Holsman Babson and Henrietta Holsman Fore. To learn more about how to support the zoo’s Amur leopards as an animal sponsor, visit https://sbzoo.pivvit.com/foster-feeder.
Amur leopards are the most endangered big cats in the world. They have also been called the Korean leopard, Far East leopard, and Manchurian leopard, which echoes their historic range, spanning the Korean Peninsula into northeast China’s Jilin and Heilongjiang Provinces, and across the border into the Russian Far East and Amur River basin, from which the species now takes its name, according to the Santa Barbara Zoo.
Just under 100 are estimated to remain in the wild, in a small area between Vladivostok, Russia, and the Chinese border, along with a few scattered individuals in China.
Their threats include poaching, forest fires, development, and, at this point, inbreeding. Approximately 200 Amur leopards are in human care, primarily in zoos in North America, Europe, and countries of the former Soviet Union, and are part of globally cooperative conservation breeding programs.
The Santa Barbara Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. for members and 9:30 a.m. for general admission until 5 p.m. General admission is $35 for adults, $25 for children 2-12, and free for children under 2.
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The Santa Barbara Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). AZA zoos are dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great visitor experience, and a better future for all living things. For more, visit sbzoo.org.