Leipzig Zoo celebrates its first chick in 11 years – a sensation in the zoo!

Leipzig Zoo celebrates its first chick in 11 years – a sensation in the zoo!

At Leipzig Zoo there is currently great joy about the new hawk owls. Zoo keeper Leave Nieberding has made a remarkable discovery: after eleven years in an aviary, the couple has now had offspring. The zookeepers had been hoping for this moment for a long time, but initially there was no offspring in sight.

Nieberding noticed a changed behavior in the male, who suddenly sought intensive eye contact with the female. It was quickly discovered that the female had laid eggs, from which two small, white chicks then hatched. The chicks were carefully checked to ensure they were not sitting on cracked eggs.

An important mission: reproduction of endangered species

It's not just the hawk owls that are making positive headlines. Leipzig Zoo is actively committed to the preservation of endangered species. This includes, among other things, the breeding of Amur leopards. There are currently two specimens living in the zoo: the male cat Xembalo (18 years old) and the female Mia (10 years old). The Amur leopard is considered the world's rarest leopard species. Estimates suggest that only around 100 individuals remain in the wild, threatened by poaching and climate change. The zoo has launched special breeding programs to preserve this species.

Unfortunately, tomcat Xembalo currently shows no interest in breeding. Therefore, a new partner, cat Checco (8 years old) from Italy, is now expected. Keepers hope Checco will have success mating with Mia over the next four weeks. The last birth of an Amur leopard at Leipzig Zoo was almost three years ago, when Mia's daughter Manju was born in late summer 2021.

The challenges of captive breeding

Breeding endangered species in zoos is an essential contribution to species protection. Loud Deutschlandfunk Nova More than 1,200 of around 5,800 mammal species worldwide are classified as endangered. Conservation breeding programs in zoos aim to ensure the long-term survival of these species and protect their natural habitats.

However, captive breeding presents numerous challenges. Many animals develop illnesses and are infertile, complicating the efforts of zookeepers. Nevertheless, there are positive examples of successful returns of species to the wild, such as the European meadow owlet or the Przewalski's horse. Wolves and moose are also examples of successful return campaigns in Europe.

At Leipzig Zoo, the zookeepers are heavily involved in breeding Ural owls and Amur leopards and hope to continue their successful breeding efforts. The joy over the little hawk owl chicks and the upcoming opportunities with the Amur leopards are evidence of an important contribution to species protection.