On November 29, 2012, an exchange of male Tsushima Leopard Cat cats took place between Inokashira Park Zoo Botanical Garden in Saikai National Park, Sasebo.

At our zoo, we had been keeping a male named "Kiichi" and a female named "Sakura" together since 2010, but they were unable to mate. So, as a new opportunity, a male was brought in from Sasebo. The zookeepers named him "Fuyuto."

Five-year-old Kiichi and three-year-old Fuyuto are brothers born at Fukuoka City Zoo. This time, they had already completed quarantine before transport, so they were released into their enclosure immediately upon arrival. Judging from their behavior in the transport cage, we thought they might jump onto the wire mesh once let out, but contrary to our expectations, they quietly emerged and walked around the exercise area, exploring every corner. Fuyuto is more nervous than his brother and it seems it will take some time for him to get used to things. He doesn't come out when it's time to feed them, and while his brother Kiichi stays quietly in a slightly elevated spot during cleaning, Fuyuto runs away as if to avoid people.

Going forward, I plan to observe her behavior and gradually introduce her to Sakura's exercise area on her own, allowing them to mark each other's scents repeatedly before deciding when to let them live together.

[Shinichi Sasaki Inokashira Park Zoo]

(December 7, 2012)