Dartmoor Zoo shares highly-anticipated update for rare blue-eyed big cat cub

Visitors to Dartmoor Zoo will soon be able to see its rare Amur leopard cub for the first time, after the zoo confirmed she has moved into an on-show habitat.

The cub, named Zeya, is one of only 15 Amur leopards born worldwide in 2025. 

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She was born at Dartmoor Zoo in September and has been kept off-show while staff carried out health checks and vaccinations.

The zoo confirmed that Zeya and her mother, Lena, were moved into the main Amur leopard enclosure earlier this week on Monday (26 January). 

Public viewing is set to begin this Saturday (31 January), following a short period of adjustment and continued welfare monitoring.

Dartmoor Zoo chief executive David Gibson said the move marked an important moment for the zoo and its conservation work.

“Moving Mum Lena and cub Zeya into the main Amur leopard enclosure here at Dartmoor Zoo is a momentous occasion,” he said.

“Our keepers have had the privilege of watching this incredibly important young leopard grow up over the last few months, but now our visitors will have the chance to share in this enjoyment and see how Zeya develops the skills she will need in years to come.”

The zoo revealed Zeya’s name and gender earlier this winter, as previously reported by The Moorlander, confirming she is a female cub born to breeding pair Freddo and Lena. 

At the time, keepers said she was healthy, active and developing well, with Mr Gibson adding that the birth and progress of the cub is significant beyond Dartmoor.

“We feel extremely proud to be able to play a small part in safeguarding the Amur leopard for the future,” he said.

Amur leopards are considered the world’s rarest big cat, with an estimated 120 remaining in the wild. 

The species is listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), although numbers have increased slightly in recent years due to improved protection in parts of Russia and China.

While reintroduction to the wild is not currently possible, conservation experts say maintaining a healthy zoo population is essential to the species’ long-term survival.

The Amur leopard is one of nine leopard subspecies and is adapted to cold climates, with a thick coat that allows it to survive harsh winters in its native range.

Dartmoor Zoo has asked visitors to be calm and respectful when viewing the leopard enclosure, as Zeya continues to adjust to her new surroundings.

Zoo staff said initial welfare checks have been positive, but both mother and cub will continue to be monitored closely.