LEO Zoological Conservation Center facts for kids

The Lionshare Educational Organization (LEO) Zoological Conservation Center was a special place in Greenwich and Stamford, Connecticut. It was a non-profit wildlife reserve. This center focused on breeding and protecting threatened and endangered animals. These are animals that are at risk of extinction, meaning they could disappear forever.

LEO Conservation Center was part of Lionshare Farm. This farm was about 90 to 100 acres big. Marcella Leone started the LEO Conservation Center in 2009. The goal was to give a home to and breed animals that needed help. The center announced it was closing on February 9, 2019.

Amazing Animals at LEO

As of July 2015, the center was home to about 50 different kinds of animals. These included camels, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, giraffes, orangutans, other primates, and penguins. Unlike a regular zoo, LEO was not open to everyone.

However, people could arrange "Private Safari Tours" if they made a special donation. LEOZCC also welcomed groups from schools and other educational places. Conservation biologists say that places like LEO are very important. They help keep healthy groups of endangered animals safe. This is especially true for centers that focus on breeding, even if they don't show animals to the public.

In February 2013, the center shared exciting news. An eastern mountain bongo was born there. This type of antelope comes from Kenya and is almost gone in the wild. The next month, a Rothschild giraffe baby was born. This giraffe is a very endangered kind of giraffe. Photos and videos of the baby giraffe got a lot of attention from the news.

The center asked the public to help name the baby. Over 6,000 name ideas were sent in! The winning name, Sandy Hope, was announced on the NBC Today show. This happened on April 1, 2013.

Animal Reproduction at LEO

LEO Zoological Conservation Center was known for its successful breeding programs. Many rare and endangered animal babies were born there.

Adaeze and Odie: King Cheetahs

Adaeze means "daughter of a king." She was one of eight cubs born to Mona Lisa. Mona Lisa was the only king cheetah in North and South America. King cheetahs are super rare. Only about 30 are left in the wild. This was the biggest litter of cheetah cubs ever recorded!

The keepers at LEOZCC realized Mona Lisa could not care for all eight cubs. So, three cubs were taken out to be hand-raised. Two of these cubs were planned to go back to Africa. This would help spread their rare genes into the wild cheetah population. Adaeze was raised with a companion animal, Odie, an Australian Shepherd dog. They became "Animal Ambassadors." They helped teach people about cheetah conservation. Adaeze and Odie traveled to many events. These included the Museum of Natural History Annual Family Party and the Today Show.

Artie the Orangutan

In the spring of 2014, baby Artie the orangutan was born. This was a very special birth. Artie was the first orangutan born using artificial reproductive technology at LEO. This means scientists helped the orangutan parents have a baby. This birth was the first step in their "Wild Cycling" program. Marcella Leone, the founder, created this program.

The Wild Cycling program aims to share genes between zoo animals and wild animals. This helps keep the orangutan population strong and diverse. The main goal is to make sure orangutans have a good future.

Rothschild's Giraffe Babies

There are fewer than 700 Rothschild's giraffes left in the wild. LEOZCC was very happy to welcome several babies of this endangered species. The first Rothschild giraffe was born at the center in 2013.

Giant Anteater Surprise

In 2013, two giant anteater babies were born. A giant anteater's pregnancy lasts about six months. The parents had not been together long enough to have another baby so soon. How the mother got pregnant again was a mystery! Some thought it might have happened through the fence. Others wondered if it was the first time this species showed "delayed implantation." This is when a baby's growth pauses for a while.

Fennec Fox & The Hound

In 2011, a litter of four North African fennec foxes was born. The mother fox could not care for or feed her newborns. So, LEOZCC found a special helper. Momma, a lactating American foxhound, was found at a rescue center in North Carolina. LEOZCC and Adopt-a-Dog brought her to the center. She became a surrogate mother and cared for the tiny fox babies.

Learning and Conservation

LEOZCC worked with several local schools and learning centers. These partnerships helped teach people about conservation. Students of all ages could get up close with some of the world's rarest animals.

The center also brought their "Animal Ambassadors" to many events. They visited school assemblies, the Maritime Aquarium, and the American Museum of Natural History. They also went to Mount Sinai hospital and other zoos. These visits helped spread the word about protecting animals.