08/12/2009 01:36:00
A wildlife park in the Scottish Highlands is soon to receive further inhabitants with a difference as two Amur leopards are set to join Britain's only polar bear in its extensive grounds.
Recently, the Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig, near Inverness, brought up newcomers Mercedes the polar bear and two Amur tigers. These additions pushed back the date the leopards were expected to be moved.
According to the BBC, the wildlife park's animal collection manager, Douglas Richardson, said: "We were kind of looking to attempt the move them this winter or early spring but in reality because of the two other big projects with the tigers and the polar bear running back-to-back it is going to be later next year."
The leopards, which will be transported from Edinburgh Zoo, are the rarest big cats in the world, with fewer than 30 estimated to be currently surviving in the wild. The big cats would be the highest profile inhabitants of the Highlands park and would live alongside birds and mammals from polar and tundra regions of the world.
Hopes are high for a successful breeding scheme, particularly following the success with previously introduced Amur tigers - also known as Siberian tigers - which were transported from Edinburgh Zoo in central Scotland in October 2008 and produced three cubs in May this year.
Other polar and tundra animals currently living at the park include reindeer, European bison, arctic foxes, red pandas and the more indigenous Scottish wildcat.
