By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
When the two Clouded Leopards arrived to the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo last September, staff was not fully aware of the behavioral issues of the two cats. The leopards are also a successful breeding pair, but the most recent pregnancy in Great Bend resulted in a stillborn, and Zoo Curator Ashley Burdick said the staff was not able to revive the cub.
"They don't process emotions the same way that we do, but they're still having some emotions and you can see things affect them," said Burdick. "We spend so much time with them, especially those leopards. My staff and I have been there at three in the morning some days to make sure they're doing okay."
The female leopard arrived with a wound that would not heal because the animal kept ripping out the sutures. Separated to let the wound heal, the animals were brought together last January. As aggressive breeders, the female received two punctures on her tail once reunited with the male.
On loan from Florida, the two are still getting acclimated in Great Bend.
"You definitely start to learn the individuals and mannerisms," said Burdick. "You can tell whether they're not feeling well or something is going on. There's definitely a lot more there than them just being an animal."
Barricades are still up ahead of the leopards’ exhibit to give the cats some distance from visitors.