The Novosibirsk Zoo, which is known for its collection of the feline species, which is the biggest in the world, is celebrating the birth of the jaguar cub triplets. This is the first offspring of the jaguar family. The 2-year-old jaguar, Porgy, has arrived in Novosibirsk from the Dortmund Zoo, while its 6- year-old girl-friend, Lyubava, has arrived in Novosibirsk from Lipetsk, which is situated 400 kilometres south of Moscow.
The jaguars, which are included in the World Red Book, are on the verge of extinction. As regards its size, the jaguar is the world’s third largest wild cat. If translated from the language of the South American Indians it means an animal killing by one jump.
Visitors to the zoos in many countries usually do not distinguish between the leopards and the jaguars: they both have an intricate pattern of black spots against the yellow background on their back. In India the leopard is often called a flower tiger. The family of the feline species includes leopards, jaguars, lions and tigers. Jaguars are bigger than leopards: sometimes they are 2 metres long and can weigh more than 150 kilograms. The jaguar is recognized by its big black spots, which are situated on its belly and on its paws.
Jaguars can live in captivity and can even breed successfully there. The Deputy Director of the Novosibirsk Zoo Olga Shilo says:
"Now they are kept in an open-air cage but later they will go to the zoos which will become home to them."
The administration team of the Novosibirsk Zoo is hopeful that soon it will celebrate the arrival of the snow leopard cubs: the two-year-old snow leopard, Narin, will bear its young. The Chief of the Cats Section at the Novosibirsk Zoo Rosa Solovyova says:
"To breed snow leopards is a hard job because they, like people, suffer from incompatibility."
The Novosibirsk Zoo has marked its 65th anniversary this year. There’re more than 10,000 animals there today. The Novosibirsk Zoo, which has established contacts with more than 150 zoos in 44 countries, is taking part in 47 international programmes for the preservation of rare animals as well as animals on the verge of extinction. It has already carried out more than 100 animal exchanges with its foreign partners from 25 countries.
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