On August 3, 2024, the "Bringing the Leopard Home 8th Anniversary Special Exhibition," organized by the National Zoological Museum of China, will grandly open in the temporary exhibition hall on the basement floor of the museum. This exhibition is hosted by the Beijing Entrepreneurs Environmental Protection Foundation Leopard Home Special Fund and the Chongqing Jiangbei Enclave Cat Alliance Ecological Science Popularization and Protection Center, aiming to comprehensively showcase the attempts, explorations, and prospects of folk conservation efforts for the North China leopard from various angles. The exhibition will run until January 20, 2025, inviting individuals from all walks of life to visit and join in the celebration.

This special exhibition is divided into six main sections, providing a systematic and in-depth introduction to the Chinese subspecies of leopard - the North China leopard. Starting from the basic information about the North China leopard, it delves into the importance of its conservation, the challenges it faces, vividly showcasing how researchers track the North China leopard, the efforts of conservationists in the coexistence of humans and leopards, and the beautiful vision of "Bringing the Leopard Home."

The exhibition adopts a perspective close to the audience’s daily lives, intricately and compellingly detailing the morphology, behavior, and the importance of conservation of the North China leopard. Through a wealth of the latest scientific research findings, conservation cases, and first-hand visual materials, including the clearest images of the North China leopard in the world, the exhibition aims to present a three-dimensional, vivid, and comprehensive image of the North China leopard to the audience.

The exhibition specifically highlights the four major challenges facing the survival of the North China leopard: habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, human-animal conflicts, and illegal poaching. Using the example of the grassroots volunteer team Cat Alliance, the exhibition showcases their brave attempts, interim achievements, and successful cases in addressing these challenging coexistence issues in Shanxi and Heshun, bringing the audience a real sense of frontline conservation work.

Leopards, as highly adaptable predators, are one of the most powerful felids in the world. Ultimately, wildlife conservation is about protecting their habitats. Through a rich collection of bird and mammal specimens, the exhibition meticulously reconstructs the diverse landscapes of the North China mountains. Additionally, innovative display methods, such as overlaying the leopard’s habitat on city maps, allow visitors to experience the daily lives of the North China leopard firsthand, immersing themselves in its every aspect.

The final part of the exhibition will focus on showcasing the route map planning and current progress of the Bringing the Leopard Home project, providing a phased summary of this large-scale ecological restoration project that may last half a century or longer. It aims to help the audience clearly understand the project’s goals and progress, witnessing together the vigorous development of this great cause.

Several precious exhibits displayed in this exhibition are from the National Zoological Museum of China’s collection. The special exhibition has also received full support and meticulous construction from the National Zoological Museum of China’s senior curators, exhibition designers, and management support team. Leveraging their professional knowledge and rich experience, they have injected professional perspectives and innovative designs into the exhibition, ensuring that every detail accurately conveys the importance and urgency of North China leopard conservation. The museum’s expert team has been deeply involved in this project, rigorously reviewing the exhibition content to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and reliability of the information presented. It is the deep involvement and meticulous construction by the museum’s expert team that make this special exhibition not only visually appealing but also highly educational, providing the public with a rare opportunity to learn and engage.

The "Bringing the Leopard Home 8th Anniversary Special Exhibition" is not only a comprehensive review and summary of the North China leopard conservation work of the past eight years but also a vision and expectation for future conservation efforts. Through this collaboratively created exhibition, we hope to further raise public awareness and attention towards the North China leopard and its conservation, attracting more people to join the ranks of volunteers and actively participate in conservation efforts. Let us join hands and contribute together to the future of the North China leopard!

Opening Ceremony and Conservation Forum

On the morning of August 3, 2024, the opening ceremony of the Bringing the Leopard Home Volunteers Conference and the 8th Anniversary Special Exhibition will be grandly held at the B105 auditorium of the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Zoology. Leaders from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Parks and Greening, the Director of the National Zoological Museum of China, and representatives of entrepreneur volunteers will deliver enthusiastic speeches. Subsequently, experts, scholars, and volunteer representatives in related fields will share the scientific research results and conservation experiences of the Bringing the Leopard Home project, offering the audience a feast of knowledge and wisdom. Finally, representatives from all sides will engage in a roundtable discussion, exploring how citizen volunteers can help in North China leopard conservation and create a bright vision for a symbiotic future. We look forward to witnessing this significant moment with you!

Exhibition Details

Exhibition Dates: From August 3, 2024, to January 20, 2025

Exhibition Venue: Temporary Exhibition Hall on the basement floor of the National Zoological Museum of China

Organizers: Beijing Entrepreneurs Environmental Protection Foundation Leopard Home Special Fund, Chongqing Jiangbei Enclave Cat Alliance Ecological Science Popularization and Protection Center

Organizer: National Zoological Museum of China

Translator: FENG Haoxuan

Reviewer: NIU Lihua