Leopard cub born in Sharjah

Sharjah, Sept 18, 2012 (WAM) - A leopard gave birth to a female cub at the Breeding Centre in Sharjah recently. According to Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of the Environment and Natural Reserves in Sharjah, this cub is genetically important as she is the first female cub that is not from the Omani line. “The Breeding Centre is currently home to 30 Arabian leopards of which 25 were born here,” she said. Leopards are shy solitary animals that only come together to mate. “They are mainly nocturnal, hunting usually at dawn and dusk. The hot hours of the day are spent in a shady spot, usually with an unobstructed view of the area.” “These cats eat a wide range of animals including hyraxes, hares, rodents, foxes and other small mammals. However, medium-sized mammals form the bulk of its prey. Unfortunately natural preys such as the Tahr and mountain Gazelle are virtually extinct, so leopards have turned to goats and sheep for food,” she said. Earlier this year, the centre witnessed the breeding of an Arabian Oryx. “This is added to 26 Nubian Ibexes, 10 mountainous deers and 26 sand gazelles. – Khaleej Times