{"id":647726,"date":"2026-06-19T19:59:23","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T19:59:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/647726\/"},"modified":"2026-06-19T19:59:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T19:59:23","slug":"first-snow-leopard-cubs-in-four-years-born-at-highland-wildlife-park-in-cairngorms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/647726\/","title":{"rendered":"First snow leopard cubs in four years born at Highland Wildlife Park in Cairngorms"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two snow leopard cubs have been born at Highland Wildlife Park for the first time in four years.<\/p>\n

The twins were born on May 25 to first-time mum Pari and dad Koshi after keepers spent months \u201ccarefully introducing\u201d the pair.<\/p>\n

Animal conservation charity the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland said the litter will remain in the park\u2019s snow leopard den for a few weeks before starting to appear at the entrance, where they will continue to live and learn alongside their mother for up to two years.<\/p>\n

Lucy Petrie, animal care manager at Highland Wildlife Park, said: \u201cWe are really looking forward to our visitors meeting them as they grow and take their first steps outside of the den in the next few weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Snow leopard cubs are born blind and typically do not open their eyes until about a week after birth.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For the first two months of their lives they rely entirely on their mother\u2019s milk, only beginning to eat meat as they grow stronger and more developed.<\/p>\n

Ms Petrie added: \u201cPari is a first-time mum, so we are keeping a close eye on how she is coping. Her instincts have kicked in and she is doing a wonderful job of raising the cubs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Snow leopards are solitary by nature with mothers taking sole responsibility for raising offspring.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To mimic this natural behaviour, keepers have dad Koshi living separately from Pari and the litter until they reach an age where they\u2019ll be ready to meet.<\/p>\n

The sex of the new arrivals is not yet known and will be confirmed by the charity\u2019s vets during their first health check.<\/p>\n

Ms Petrie said: \u201cWhile the cuteness is an excellent reason to be excited, it\u2019s even better for the snow leopard population, which is decreasing in the wild.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThese new faces are going to be great ambassadors for their wild relatives, helping raise awareness of the challenges this beautiful and enigmatic species face every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

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