It may look like they're fighting but love is in the air at a Kent big cat centre.

Keepers hope to hear the patter of tiny paws of rare Amur leopards after introducing five-year-old Artur and three-year-old Xizi at Wildlife Heritage Foundation in Smarden, near Ashford.

There are just 30 Amur leopards left in the wild and 140 in captive breeding programmes.

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It is hoped that the pair will breed, which would be an exciting achievement for all staff and volunteers at the centre as it is yet to be home to baby big cats.

Mark Edgerley, director of the WHF, said: "The introduction went really smoothly, the cats greeted each other, explored their respective partner's enclosures and within an hour were mating."