New Breeding Project for Tsushima Leopard Cats

As part of the Programs for Rehabilitation of Natural Habitats and Maintenance of Viable Populations for Tsushima Leopard Cats, the Ministry of the Environment, with the cooperation of the Fukuoka City Zoological Park, has conducted captive breeding and successfully bred 20 Tsushima leopard cats. This result confirms that the programs are working successfully.

In order to reduce the risk that these cats, kept in the same facility, may be affected by infectious diseases and other negative events, a pair will be transferred both to the Inokashira Park Zoo in Tokyo and the Yokohama Zoological Gardens Zoorasia in Yokohama for feeding and keeping.

Additionally, 3 kittens born during 2005 and 2006 in the Fukuoka City Zoological Park will be transferred to Tsushima Island, the home of the Tsushima leopard cat.

In return, 2 captured wild Tsushima leopard cats will be transferred to Fukuoka for the 2006 captive breeding program, in order to improve the genetic biodiversity of individuals kept there.

For Japanese