Two leopards matched on an animal dating site — and their unlikely love story led to the birth of the ‘world’s rarest big cat’
Amur leopards have been a concern for conservationists due to the endangerment of the species. With only 120 left in the wild and 300 in captivity, the birth of an Amur cub is news conservationists have been looking forward to. But when two leopards matched on an animal dating site, the union marked the birth of the "world's rarest big cats." Conservationists are celebrating the cub’s arrival, made all the more special by the extraordinary way its parents first met.
As reported by What's The Jam on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, mother leopard Lena was moved from Colchester Zoo, Essex, to Dartmoor Zoo, Devon, in 2024 after she matched with father leopard Freddo on an animal dating site. Yes, the big felines met on a dating app! According to the report, the pair instantly took a liking to each other and engaged in grooming and mating. But their bond has now brought forth the birth of the "world's rarest big cat," capturing global attention. Weighing in on the birth of the new cub, Dartmoor Zoo Chief Executive David Gibson said, "The birth of our first Amur leopard cub is the culmination of several years of planning and hard work. It's incredibly rewarding to know that we are making a significant contribution to the survival of the most endangered big cat in the world."
While the good news has brought joy to zookeepers, it is particularly exciting for conservationists who have often studied the future of the endangered species. Currently, the species only makes up about 400 of its population; hence, a new cub's arrival is indeed good news for its species. Gibson noted that while visitors are allowed to catch a glimpse of the cub, the mother and cub are currently under extreme care. According to the zookeepers, female leopards keep their cubs hidden for the first eight weeks for their cubs' protection. Both leopard parents were separated days before the arrival of the expected cub.
Madeleine Millin, the animal manager, gave an update on the young cub’s curious nature and praised the mother leopard for doing “a fantastic job caring for her little one.” "The cub is moving around well, playing with mum, and exploring the surroundings of the den. The entire keeper team is [sic] excited and I'm very proud and can't wait to watch the cub develop and thrive," she shared. According to a 2022 study published in PubMed, Amur leopards are critically endangered predators that are on the brink of extinction due to canine distemper virus (CDV), habitat loss, and inbreeding depression. As per the study, without any conservation measures, the species can face an extinction risk ranging from 10.3% to 99.9% over the next 100 years, depending on the inbreeding depression.