Incredibly rare cub born at UK zoo — and the videos are adorable. Take a look
In the frozen peaks of the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau, snow leopards blend in with their surroundings thanks to a fluffy, gray and spotted coat.
The frigid air whips past their long tails, but the leopards are unbothered as their body is perfectly adapted to the harsh environment.
But, their species is in trouble — there are just a few thousand left in the wild, and they face threats from poaching, mining, development and climate change.
Now, the birth of a new snow leopard thousands of miles away from the mountains gives renewed hope for the long-term survival of the ghost-like species.
A snow leopard cub was born to first-time parents Nubra and Yashin on June 10 at the Chester Zoo in England, according to a July 23 announcement.
“Since then, mum and cub have been tucked away in a quiet den,” the zoo said. “We’ve been monitoring them using den cams, capturing some incredibly special early moments.”
Videos and photos of the cub’s first few days were shared on social media.
The cub spent the first six weeks of its life secluded with mother Nubra, the zoo said, but as it grows and becomes stronger, it is nearing the time it could step out on its own.
“This is the first snow leopard cub to be born at Chester Zoo. It’s a truly historic moment and a real cause for celebration — not just for our teams here but also for the future of this magnificent species globally,” mammals general manager Nick Davis said in the news release.
Leopards Nubra and Yashin were originally paired in 2024 as part of an international breeding program aimed at maintaining a “healthy insurance population” for the threatened species, according to the zoo.
Snow leopards are listed as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and have been nicknamed the “ghosts of the mountains” because of their elusive behavior, the Chester Zoo says.
This habitat was re-created on a small scale at the zoo and acts as “the perfect setting for Nubra and Yashin to settle and start a family,” according to the release.
The sex and name of the cub have not yet been released.
“While this birth is a significant moment for snow leopard conservation, our work to help this species thrive extends far beyond our zoo. We’re working alongside The Snow Leopard Trust and communities in countries like Kyrgyzstan to protect snow leopards in the wild, while also improving livelihoods for people who live alongside them,” regional field program manager for Asia, Mayukh Chatterjee, said in the release.
“By doing this we’re helping to reduce human-wildlife conflict by developing sustainable, snow leopard-friendly alternatives to livestock farming — reducing retaliatory killings, which is one of their main threats, and instead promoting peaceful coexistence,” Chatterjee said. “It’s an approach that’s already seen success in other areas of the world, and we’re confident we can bring positive change to both people and snow leopards alike.”
The Chester Zoo is in west-central England, about a 25-mile drive south from Liverpool.
