Mowgli was rescued in March 2020 by the Born Free Foundation from a failed zoo in South Africa. He now resides in their big cat sanctuary based in the Shamwari Conservation Experience grounds, and recently, he was moved into a huge new enclosure! Whilst Mowgli gets used to his new home the team are respecting his boundaries and giving him space, though they have set up cameras to ensure he is settling in. Take a look at the footage below showing that he is very lively when no one is watching:
Mowgli is a melanistic leopard, otherwise known as a black panther. They are uncommon globally but extremely rare in Africa. At the point of rescue, he was approximately 18 months old, and sadly he and the other animals had been left to starve. After a group effort from the Born Free Foundation, Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary and Bloemfontein SPCA, all of the animals at the failing zoo were rehomed.
Unfortunately, Mowgli is unable to be released into the wild as he is unable to fend for himself, but he has found a forever home where he is able to lead the most natural life possible. As you can see from the footage his enclosure has grass slopes, indigenous trees and shrubs which provide plenty of shade, and dense undergrowth, just as he would in the wild. Leopards, as well as other big cats, like to have a good view of their surroundings and Mowgli has plenty of trees and wooden platforms which you can see him using in the video. Welcome home Mowgli!
