Yorkshire Wildlife Park Tragedy Leaves Staff Grieving After Cub Put To Sleep

Yorkshire Wildlife Park has confirmed that an Amur leopard cub named Lewis was peacefully put to sleep on March 12 after a short battle with a bone and joint condition, the park said.

Park Confirms Death Of Amur Leopard Cub

Director of Animals Dr Charlotte Macdonald shared the news in a short video, describing the development as devastating. The park said Lewis was surrounded by his animal rangers when he was put to sleep and that the decision was taken in the cub’s best interests following detailed clinical consideration.

Medical Findings And Decision To Put Lewis To Sleep

Lewis had been diagnosed with a form of hip dysplasia affecting both hips, a developmental condition that impacts the growth of young animals. The disorder weakens the cartilage in the growth plate of the main leg bone, which leads to malformation of the hip joint and progressively worsens over time. The park said that animal and veterinary teams, together with external specialists, held careful discussions before deciding to end treatment on welfare grounds.

Birth, Naming And Conservation Context

Born on April 21, 2025, Lewis was less than a year old and arrived alongside his sister. The cub was named after Dr John Lewis of Wildlife Vets International, who had worked with Amur leopards in captivity and in the wild and who attended the park for the launch of Leopard Heights; he died in 2020. His sister, called Ali, was named after vet Alison Burns, who died in 2024. The park noted that Amur leopards are among the most endangered big cats; they were listed as Critically Endangered in 2007 with only 19–26 wild individuals recorded at that time.

Staff Reaction And Next Steps

The park described Lewis as a much-loved and cherished member of its family and said he will be deeply missed. Staff paid tribute to the cub, and the director emphasized that the welfare of the animal guided every step of the clinical discussions. The park said it consulted external specialists as part of the process for reaching the decision.

With Lewis’s passing, the park’s statement framed the loss as both a personal tragedy for staff and a reminder of the fragility of critically endangered species kept and cared for in conservation settings. The park closed the statement by offering their respects and saying, ‘Rest in peace, Lewis. ’