Leopard Naming

Help name the Zoo's newest Amur leopard cub by making a donation today! The birth was the first of the species at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in its 144-year history and also the first Amur leopard born among Ohio zoos. One of the world’s rarest and most critically endangered species, fewer than 200 Amur leopards likely remain in the wild. 

The male cub was born just after midnight on July 1 to five-year-old mom, Marta, and four-year-old father, Sylas, at the Zoo’s Asian Highlands destination. Marta and her cub have been closely bonding behind-the-scenes and are being monitored by the Zoo’s Animal Care team. He has grown from one pound at birth to over eight pounds today and is active, mobile and expected to be visible to the public in a few weeks. Both Marta and Sylas are first-time parents and, as leopards are generally solitary animals, Sylas can still be seen on public view at Asian Highlands during this time. 

We invite you to help name the cub! Donations made during this campaign will go to WildCats Conservation Alliance to support initiatives in the species’ native habitat in the southwestern Primorye region of Russia, including interventions that benefit both Amur tigers and Amur leopards. Three name options are available for voting that are regionally traditional to where the species lives.

Voting will close on Monday, September 28 at midnight and the winning name will be announced by the Zoo.