24th December 2004 - 28th March 2005

I took these pictures of a very rare Amur Leopard cub, Amirah ('princess') at Marwell Zoo (UK, between Southampton and Winchester) on 25th March. It looked like a very playfull 3 month old cub (it was born on Christmas Eve 2004).

I was still processing and printing these pictures a few days later when I heard the tragic news that Amirah had been killed by her Father when the young cub managed get from the part of the enclosure that she shared with her mother (Ascha) into the segragated part of the enclosure that housed the cubs father (Akin).

I'd hoped to get some more pictures of this most photogenic cub on subsequent visits to the zoo, but alas its not to be.

I'm sure Amirah leaves behind a grieving Mother and staff at Marwell Zoo, my thoughts are with them for this tragic loss.