As part of its Growing Up series, the Animal Planet network takes a look at the life of Eddy, a black leopard living at the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Conservation Center in Colorado. Owners Pat and Shelly Craig provide care for abandoned and abused wild animals, including large cats. Several years ago, the Craigs rescued a pair of adult black leopards, unaware that the female was pregnant. When the baby leopard was born, the couple removed it from the leopards environment to protect it from the male leopard, and raised it on their own.
Lifelong animal lover Edie Falco, known for her role on the Home Box Office (HBO) series The Sopranos, hosts this episode of Growing Up. She follows Eddys progress as he grows from a cute little kitten into a full-grown predator. Viewers learn the problems the Craigs encountered while raising the wild animal and how they overcame them, ensuring Eddy made it to adulthood. Audiences see the entire Craig family playing with Eddy and learn how he reacts when he is released into a 20-acre enclosure to live with other leopards.
The episode will air on Animal Planet on May 21 and May 30 at 3 p.m. Eastern time.
Posted: May 18, 2006, 5:00 a.m. EST