Yorkshire Wildlife Park has shared their grief following the loss of a “deeply cherished” member of the park earlier today (March 12).
Amur Leopard cub, Lewis, was “peacefully put to sleep this morning” (March 12), surrounded by his animal rangers, after a short battle with a bone and joint condition.
Lewis was less than a year old, having been born on April 21, 2025, alongside his sister. Director of Animals, Dr Charlotte Macdonald, shared the “devastating” news in a short video. She said Lewis had been diagnosed with Hip Dysplasia – a condition that was affecting his quality of life.
A post made to social media read: “Lewis had been diagnosed with a form of hip dysplasia affecting both hips, a developmental condition that impacts the growth of young animals. This disorder causes the cartilage in the growth plate of the main leg bone to weaken, leading to malformation of the hip joint, which progressively worsens over time.
Amur Leopard Lewis and sister Ali, were born at the park last year -Credit:Yorkshire Wildlife Park
“Following careful discussions between our animal and veterinary teams, along with consultation from external specialists, the difficult decision was made to do what was in Lewis’s best interests.”
The post said Lewis was a “much-loved and cherished member” of Yorkshire Wildlife Park. The post read: “He will be deeply missed by all of us. Rest in peace, Lewis.”
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