County Executive Ryan McMahon Announces Naming Contest for Amur Leopard Cubs at Rosamond Gifford Zoo
Votes will be accepted through Friday, August 23rd
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon invites the public to help name the new Amur leopard cubs born at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo on June 19, 2019 via an online naming contest.
The cubs came out of their den into public view for the first time Wednesday and can now be seen daily by the public.
The new cubs are a male and female born to mother Amur leopard Tria and father Rafferty as part of the Species Survival Plan for Amur leopards overseen by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA).
Amur leopards are the world’s most endangered big cats, with fewer than 85 remaining in the wild in their native habitat, the Amur River Basin in Far East Russia.
The zoo’s animal care team suggested four names for each cub, all in keeping with the zoo’s “I Love New York” theme for naming new arrivals in 2019.
The names up for vote are:
Male:
Baxter – mountain in Essex County Campbell – town in Steuben County Milo – town in Yates County Moose – river in the Adirondacks
Female:
Ava – town in Oneida County Marcy – town in Oneida County Mina – town in Chautauqua County Rose – town in Wayne County
Please vote for one name for each cub via the online ballot by clicking here: Naming Contest. The zoo will accept votes through Friday, August 23rd. The County Executive will announce the names once the votes are tallied.
The zoo acquired new Amur leopard parents Tria and Rafferty last year from the Greenville, SC. and San Diego zoos respectively as part of the Species Survival Plan for this critically endangered species. The SSP overseen by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) is working to breed a genetically strong population of Amur leopards in human care.
Rosamond Gifford Zoo joined the SSP last fall with the intent to build an Amur leopard habitat to accommodate a breeding pair and their cubs, Fox said. The zoo will begin construction to renovate the former African lion exhibit into the Amur Leopard Woodland this fall. The Friends of the Zoo is holding a fundraising campaign for the project. Donations can be made at rosamondgiffordzoo.org/donate or by calling Friends of the Zoo Development Director Steve Bergonzi at (315) 435-8511 x8626.