Tributes to popular 'Exmoor beast' after his passing

Tributes have been paid to “Zoysa"

Author: Andrew KayPublished 19th Oct 2022

The last captive black, or melanistic, leopard in the UK has died at Exmoor Zoo due to age-related natural causes.

Zoysa had reached a good age of 18 years, of which the last thirteen was at Exmoor Zoo and outlived his wife Ebony who died last year, after a twelve-week prolonged period of palliative care.

Danny Reynolds the Zoo’s director and trustee said: "I personally will miss him and the shouts he caused from visitors as he deliberately surprised them as they visited his enclosure… quite a character.

"Zoysa was a special one-of-a-kind leopard. Hand reared by Jimmy Club in 2004 he just absolutely loved people and was always waiting for visitors to entertain him as they walked around the zoo. His death will leave a big hole especially for those keepers and volunteers who have cared for him over the years”.

"Captive black leopards date back to the Victorian era and seem to be the archetypal “big cat” that purportedly still roam free in the UK. Over the years their sightings have decreased but even today reliable reports of their sightings still occur.

"The zoo will enter a respectful period of mourning and over this winter a decision will be made if we will continue with this species. There are a relative few (less than five in European zoos) and the enclosure opened by Mr. Trevor Beer M.B.E a former local renown naturalist will be refurbished during the winter.

"A sad day but also one to celebrate a life well lived and to remember all the joy and fascination he bought to our visitors."

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