Recently, a pair of leopard cats, a species under national second-level protection, that were artificially rescued by the Qingyuan Wildlife Rescue Center successfully bred a healthy cub. The center's groundbreaking achievement marks a key development in wildlife conservation and opens new possibilities for the protection of the leopard cat population.
The story begins in July 2023, when a weak leopard cat cub, just days old, was found and sent to the rescue center by the Yingde Forestry Bureau. The cub, weighing only 180 grams, was too young to feed itself. Experts believed it had been separated from its mother during a relocation. Named "Yangyang," the cub was transferred to the Chimelong Safari Park for round-the-clock care, including a custom milk formula and expert feeding every two hours.
In September 2023, another leopard cat cub, "Yunyun," was rescued in Lianzhou and sent to the Qingyuan Wildlife Rescue Center. Weighing 190 grams, Yunyun received the same level of attentive care and soon began to thrive alongside Yangyang.
In early 2025, Yunyun successfully became pregnant and gave birth to a healthy cub on March 19. The newborn, now weighing over 600 grams, is thriving under the care of its mother, Yunyun. The cub has already learned to feed itself and explore its surroundings.
Since its establishment in 2022, the Qingyuan Wildlife Rescue Center has treated over 2,270 wild animals, including endangered species. This achievement highlights the growing success of Qingyuan's comprehensive animal protection initiatives.
Author | Huang Xinying
Photo | Nanfang Plus
Editor | Wei Shen, James, Shen He
