Source: 90.3 WPLN News
Heather Schwartz, director of Veterinary services at the Nashville Zoo, is once again hand-raising a clouded leopard cub—a critical role in conserving this rare and difficult-to-breed species. Clouded leopards are challenging to breed due to size differences between males and females, aggression, and frequent maternal neglect. Schwartz, who hand-raised the cub’s mother, Niran, closely monitored her pregnancy and labor, ultimately assisting in the cub’s birth. To ensure survival, the cub was removed early for around-the-clock care, including bottle feeding and incubator time with heartbeat-simulating stuffed animals.
This cub is the 44th born at Nashville Zoo since 1991, a key player in an international breeding consortium. The public can vote on the cub’s name—Lara, Vi, or Tashi—with proceeds benefiting Save Vietnam Wildlife, a nonprofit preserving clouded leopard habitats. Once grown, the cub will be paired with a male in hopes of contributing to the species’ survival through future breeding efforts.