Working with clouded leopard animal ambassadors as cubs can be a lot of fun. However, when they grow up, things can change. The once playful, rambunctious cub can become a cautious, watchful adult. The training approach we use is simple: expose the cubs to outside stimuli (just about everything!) at a time that coincides with their natural curiosity. During these early formative years, we learn each individual cat’s likes and dislikes. Training these shy leopards is much like spending time with good friends: together you share many adventures and, above all, lots of quality time. By the time the leopard has reached adulthood, the cat and the trainers have built a strong relationship that involves trust, confidence, reliability, and a certain amount of humor on both sides. This strong bond between adult clouded leopard and trainer allows both to be comfortable working in daily shows and other public relations events. The San Diego Zoo is the only zoo in the world to have adult clouded leopard animal ambassadors. To celebrate that, here is a short walk down clouded leopard memory lane.
bassadors. Rimau, Dahan (both males), and Asia (a female) were all under the age of five months and not related to each other. The training staff began immediately introducing these young cubs to a variety of circumstances, taking them on every adventure Toui-San had enjoyed. Rimau amazed millions of visitors with his bond to Kathy by leaping across the stage at Wegeforth Bowl and landing gently on her shoulders. Dahan’s good looks came in handy when trying to court Asia. Asia’s uncharacteristically brave and confident nature brought her front and center before many different types of audiences. Asia charmed movie stars and rock stars, and on one occasion she even climbed onto the lap of Hugh Hefner, who found he couldn’t resist the San Diego Zoo’s world-class kitty cat! Together, these three cats produced three litters of cubs. Asia’s trainers would quip during the Animal Chit Chat Show that “Asia is a woman of the ’90s: she works, has two boyfriends, and raises the kids, all at the same time!”
KYA
Kya and Kilat: Sister Act
Toui-San: A Star Is Born The first generation of clouded leopard animal stars began in 1979, with the young male Toui-San. While Toui-San spent most of his time in the Children’s Zoo nursery, animal training supervisor Kathy Marmack began taking the sixmonth-old cub out for daily appearances at the Clark Theater show stage. Toui-San would also make unannounced visits to the curator’s office. Even the most academic personality couldn’t resist a rolypoly clouded leopard cub trying to gain traction on a pile of papers. The highlight of his career was when Joan Embery took him to The Tonight Show while Johnny Carson was the host.
KILAT
Norman: The Sensitive Soul
Rimau, Dahan, and Asia: Three’s Company In 1985, the San Diego Zoo received another gift: a trio this time, our second generation of clouded leopard animal am-
In 1998, the third generation of animal ambassadors came our way. Two of them, Kya and Kilat, arrived on permanent loan to us, and they happened to be the great granddaughters of Asia and Dahan. Kya enjoyed rolling in a fragrant bed of flowers, either on a walk or in front of an audience. Her sister, Kilat, who was a little more athletic, enjoyed climbing straight up one side of a tree and down the other on her walks or completing a long series of jumps for an audience. These two clouded leopard animal stars impressed Zoo guests during the Wild Ones show at Hunte Amphitheater and later, in 2009, at Urban Jungle for the Backstage Pass program.
NORMAN
Another member of our third generation of clouded stars was Norman, who joined the team in 2000. Norman started out growing up in Ohio, and his time there SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL
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