Nuwa turned one

NUWA a Sri Lankan leopard at Bioparc Fuengirola turned one this week. An endangered species, she is being raised and protected by the European Endangered Species Program (EEP) at Bioparc which has been in place for past ten years. Her care takers made a birthday cake out of meat and ice, which was quickly devoured by the small leopardess and her mother, Toñi. 

This species of leopard is very difficult to breed, which is why Nuwa is the only Sri Lanka leopard to have been bred in captivity in the past year. Preservation experts have estimated that there are only 700 to 950 specimens of this breed left in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka´s increasing population is threatening their natural habitat, and poachers are paid vast amounts of money for their pelts. Bioparc is working towards keeping endangered species alive by European programs that help the park breed these animals in captivity.