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History:

Mia came to IEAS from the Columbus Zoo when she was retired from educational tours with Jack Hanna. She came from the Oakhill Center in Oklahoma. Mia is one of the rarest large cat in the world. When Mia arrived at IEAS, she was very distrusting of humans. Louis, Animal Behaviorist, worked with Mia using our Emotional Enrichment Program for long amounts of time earning her trust and companionship. She began to see Louis as a source of security, comfort and affection. She is now comfortable around those she trusts and will come down and lay by visitors and greets them with an affectionate rumbling sound.

Personality:

Mia proves that any generality about a species is, at best, misguided. While leopards are considered among the most dangerous of the big cats, Mia is loving, affectionate, stable, secure, and relaxed around those humans she accepts. However, she can easily become nervous around those she isn't comfortable with. Mia does enjoy visits from her Adoptive Parents and will frequently come down and greet them by the fence.