Welcome Lisa, the Amur Leopard, to the Houston Zoo!
Lisa, a 13-year-old Amur leopard, recently made the journey from Chicago to Houston, becoming a new member of the Houston Zoo family. Known for her confident, curious, and sassy personality, Lisa enjoys basking in the sun and snacking on beef and rabbit. The zoo’s animal care team is making sure she feels at home by providing fans, misters, and a waterfall feature to help her adjust to Houston’s heat and humidity.
She now resides in the cougar habitat at the Houston Zoo, where she joined Shasta VII and Louie. Lisa’s name comes from her mother, Mona, and the pair was affectionately known as “Mona Lisa” back in Chicago.
Amur leopards are one of the rarest big cats in the world, with less than 100 left in the wild. They are critically endangered due to factors like habitat loss, poaching, and human encroachment. These majestic creatures are native to northern China and eastern Russia, often sharing territories with the Amur tiger.
Despite their endangered status, Amur leopards are agile and fast, capable of running up to 35 mph. They have longer legs and larger feet to navigate snow environments, showcasing their adaptability and resilience.
To help protect wildlife like Amur leopards, the Houston Zoo advocates for sustainable practices such as using less paper or recycled-content paper products. By conserving resources, we can preserve forest habitats for animals in the wild.
Let’s celebrate the arrival of Lisa, the Amur leopard, at the Houston Zoo and continue to support conservation efforts to ensure a future for these magnificent big cats in the wild.
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