Brightwalton teenager bids to save amur leopards

The Downs School pupil, Rebecca Copus, is creating a website to spread the word about the endangered species

A TEENAGER from Brightwalton is doing her bit to help save a critically endangered species of big cat.

The Downs School pupil Rebecca Copus, aged 14, has been raising awareness of amur leopards, of which it is estimated there are only 30 to 35 left in the wild.

“It shocked me to realise how endangered they were and I felt I needed to do something to help them,” she said.

“I think amur leopards are such beautiful creatures and to lose them would be the worst thing ever, so I really want to help keep their numbers up."

Rebecca, who hopes to one day become an exotic animals vet, is currently creating a website to spread the word about the species, which has lost its habitat due to deforestation and has suffered at the hands of hunters.

Monica Dolan, a sponsored events manager for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-UK, said: “It's great that people like Rebecca are committed to conserving wildlife and want to support WWF as we try and preserve some of the world's most threatened species. We wish her every bit of luck with her challenge and would like to thank her very much for her support.”

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