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'@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@ [[File:Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi 1.jpg|thumb|upright|Adult Rothschild's giraffe]] -The '''Lionshare Educational Organization (LEO) Zoological Conservation Center''' is a private, [[nonprofit]] wildlife reserve and breeding facility in [[Greenwich, Connecticut|Greenwich]] and [[Stamford, Connecticut]]. +The '''Lionshare Educational Organization (LEO) Zoological Conservation Center''' is an off -exhibit, [[nonprofit]] wildlife reserve and breeding facility in [[Greenwich, Connecticut|Greenwich]] and [[Stamford, Connecticut]]. ==Ideology== @@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ == About == -LEO Zoological Conservation Center is located on Lionshare Farm, a property of about 90 to 100 acres (36 to 40 ha) owned by Marcella and [[Peter Leone]]. Marcella Leone established the LEO Conservation Center in 2009 to house and breed [[endangered species|threatened and endangered]] animals, particularly species at risk of [[extinction]].<ref name=NYT1April2013>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/01/nyregion/baby-giraffe-brings-attention-to-connecticut-animal-sanctuary.html |title=Baby Giraffe Draws Attention to Sanctuary |newspaper=New York Times |date=March 31, 2013|author=Kristin Hussey}}</ref> Most of the financing for the center's operation comes from her own money, and she serves as its director.<ref name=LEOhistory>{{cite web|url=http://leozoo.org/center/history/|title=History and Director |publisher=LEO Zoological Conservation Center |accessdate=March 31, 2013}}</ref> She says she has spent "many, many, many millions" of dollars on the facility and that the large expenditures are "not always popular" within her family.<ref name=NYT1April2013/> +LEO Zoological Conservation Center is located on Lionshare Farm, a property of about 90 to 100 acres (36 to 40 ha) owned by Marcella and [[Peter Leone]]. Marcella Leone established the LEO Conservation Center in 2009 to house and breed [[endangered species|threatened and endangered]] animals, particularly species at risk of [[extinction]].<ref name=NYT1April2013>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/01/nyregion/baby-giraffe-brings-attention-to-connecticut-animal-sanctuary.html |title=Baby Giraffe Draws Attention to Sanctuary |newspaper=New York Times |date=March 31, 2013|author=Kristin Hussey}}</ref> -As of March 2013, the facility housed about 200 individual animals, including [[camel]]s, [[cheetah]]s, [[leopard]]s, [[hyena]]s, giraffes, [[orangutan]]s and other [[primate]]s, and [[penguin]]s.<ref name=NYT1April2013/> Unlike a traditional [[zoo]], it is not open to the public. However, visits can be arranged for large donors and educational groups.<ref name=NYT1April2013/> [[Conservation biologist]]s say that breeding facilities, such as LEO, that do not exhibit animals play an important role in maintaining healthy populations of endangered animal species.<ref name=NYT1April2013/> +As of July 2015, the facility housed about 50 species, including [[camel]]s, [[cheetah]]s, [[leopard]]s, [[hyena]]s, giraffes, [[orangutan]]s and other [[primate]]s, and [[penguin]]s.<ref name=NYT1April2013/> Unlike a traditional [[zoo]], it is not open to the public. However, "Private Safari Tours" can be arranged for an allotted minimum donation.<ref name=NYT1April2013/> LEOZCC also hosts special visits for educational institutions. [[Conservation biologist]]s say that breeding facilities, such as LEO, that do not exhibit animals play an important role in maintaining healthy populations of endangered animal species.<ref name=NYT1April2013/> -Animal births at the center have included a [[kangaroo]], and a [[white-faced saki monkey]].<ref name=CSMonitor25March2013>{{cite news|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2013/0325/Rare-giraffe-born-at-Connecticut-refuge.-It-s-a-girl-and-she-needs-a-name |title= Rare giraffe born at Connecticut refuge. It's a girl, and she needs a name |author= Allison Terry |date= March 25, 2013 |newspaper=[[Christian Science Monitor]]}}</ref> In February 2013, the center announced the birth of an [[Bongo (antelope)|eastern mountain bongo]], an antelope indigenous to [[Kenya]] that is close to extinction in the wild.<ref name=NYT1April2013/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://leozoo.org/critically-endangered-eastern-mountain-bongo-born/ |title=Critically Endangered Eastern Mountain Bongo Born! |date=February 7, 2013|publisher=LEO Zoological Conservation Center |accessdate=March 31, 2013}}</ref> The following month, a [[Rothschild giraffe]] was born at the facility.<ref name=NYT1April2013/><ref name=CSMonitor25March2013/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://leozoo.org/endangered-rothschild-giraffe/|title=Endangered Rothschild Giraffe |date=March 23, 2013|publisher=LEO Zoological Conservation Center |accessdate=March 31, 2013}}</ref> Photos and video of the baby giraffe, which belongs to a very endangered subspecies of giraffe, attracted extensive media attention.<ref name=NYT1April2013/> The center announced a public contest to choose a name for the baby; in response, over 6,000 suggestions were submitted on the center's website.<ref name=NYT1April2013/><ref name=TodayHelpName>{{cite web|url=http://www.today.com/pets/help-name-rare-baby-giraffe-born-connecticut-1C9074946 |title=Help name a rare baby giraffe born in Connecticut |author=Scott Stump |date=March 26, 2013 |work=Today.com ([[Today (U.S. TV program)|Today]] ''show website'')}}</ref> The winning name was to be announced on the [[NBC]] ''[[Today (U.S. TV program)|Today]]'' show on April 1, 2013.<ref name=NYT1April2013/> +[http://Animal%20births%20at%20the%20center%20have%20included%20the%20largest%20litter%20of%20cheetah%20cubs%20ever,%208,%20all%20of%20which%20cary%20the%20rare%20King%20Cheetah%20gene http://www.greenwichtime.com/local/article/Greenwich-cheetah-cubs-carry-on-rare-genetic-line-5825248.php] .<ref name=CSMonitor25March2013>{{cite news|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2013/0325/Rare-giraffe-born-at-Connecticut-refuge.-It-s-a-girl-and-she-needs-a-name |title= Rare giraffe born at Connecticut refuge. It's a girl, and she needs a name |author= Allison Terry |date= March 25, 2013 |newspaper=[[Christian Science Monitor]]}}</ref> In February 2013, the center announced the birth of an [[Bongo (antelope)|eastern mountain bongo]], an antelope indigenous to [[Kenya]] that is close to extinction in the wild.<ref name=NYT1April2013/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://leozoo.org/critically-endangered-eastern-mountain-bongo-born/ |title=Critically Endangered Eastern Mountain Bongo Born! |date=February 7, 2013|publisher=LEO Zoological Conservation Center |accessdate=March 31, 2013}}</ref> The following month, a [[Rothschild giraffe]] was born at the facility.<ref name=NYT1April2013/><ref name=CSMonitor25March2013/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://leozoo.org/endangered-rothschild-giraffe/|title=Endangered Rothschild Giraffe |date=March 23, 2013|publisher=LEO Zoological Conservation Center |accessdate=March 31, 2013}}</ref> Photos and video of the baby giraffe, which belongs to a very endangered subspecies of giraffe, attracted extensive media attention.<ref name=NYT1April2013/> The center announced a public contest to choose a name for the baby; in response, over 6,000 suggestions were submitted on the center's website.<ref name=NYT1April2013/><ref name=TodayHelpName>{{cite web|url=http://www.today.com/pets/help-name-rare-baby-giraffe-born-connecticut-1C9074946 |title=Help name a rare baby giraffe born in Connecticut |author=Scott Stump |date=March 26, 2013 |work=Today.com ([[Today (U.S. TV program)|Today]] ''show website'')}}</ref> The winning name, Sandy Hope, was announced on the [[NBC]] ''[[Today (U.S. TV program)|Today]]'' show on April 1, 2013.<ref name=NYT1April2013/> Lionshare Farm was formerly a [[golf course]].<ref name=LEOhistory/> Another part of the property is used for an [[equestrianism|equestrian]] operation run by Peter Leone.<ref name=NYT1April2013/> '