A male leopard named Blackie, a female puma named Munchie, and a male tiger named Rajah arrived at EFRC from the William Sheperd Wild Animal Orphanage in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Blackie had been rescued by Dr. Sheperd in a federal seizure in Ohio in 2004, while Munchie had been rescued in a federal seizure involving Water Wheel Exotics in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1999–2000. Dr. Sheperd had rescued many animals but had reached his limit on the number he could care for. EFRC had previously worked with Dr. Sheperd during the rescue of the Munchkins, a group of lions and tigers that were starving when taken in by EFRC.
Upon arrival at EFRC, Blackie was diagnosed with allergic dermatitis. He was treated and his condition improved greatly. The initial veterinary examination stated, “The hair on the ventral trunk is thin and there are poorly defined patches of mild to moderate hyperpigmentation ± mild lichenification. On the neck and shoulders and to a lesser extent the head there are patches of alopecia up to 1.5 cm in diameter that are associated with thick, moderately hyperpigmented and mildly scaly skin. Around the eyes extending to the dorsum of the muzzle and to a lesser extent the lips there is alopecic, hyperpigmented, thick and shiny skin that is reminiscent of deep pyoderma. These areas were not particularly friable.” In other words, Blackie had a lot of hairless patches and scaly skin.
Black leopards are what some people call “black panthers.” Black leopards are not black and there is no such thing as a panther. Black leopards have brown skin with black spots. The term “panther,” these days, can refer to leopards, pumas, and just about any cat that size. If someone says they saw a panther, it is impossible to know what they have seen.
Blackie, December 3, 2011
During one of EFRC’s annual “Pumpkin Parties,” Blackie seemed to have eaten all of his pumpkin. Felids play with the pumpkins after eating all of the chicken placed inside them, but they are not known to eat the pumpkin.
Rajah, August 11, 2012
Rajah, November 30, 2014
Munchie, September 4, 2011
