Snow leopard cub at the Bronx Zoo.
Photo by: Terria Clay©WCS
The Wildlife Conservation Society’s (WCS) Bronx Zoo welcomed the arrival of its newest furry resident: An adorable snow leopard cub born earlier this year who made her public debut on Sept. 30.
Zoo staff said the young female feline, born on May 31 to parents Dari and Moutig, is “doing well” after passing her physical exams and routine vaccinations. New Yorkers and visitors can see her exploring the zoo’s sprawling Himalayan Highlands habitat. Her birth brings the total number of snow leopards at the zoo to eight.
Sleepy snow leopard cub at the Bronx ZooTerria Clay©WCS
Snow leopards are native to the high-altitude mountains of the Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau in Asia, where they are well-adapted to survive in cold, arid climates. Known as the “ghosts of the mountain,” snow leopards can be difficult to spot in nature.
“Snow leopards are one of the world’s most elusive big cats,” a zoo press release explained. “Rarely seen in the wild, they have a spotted white-gray coat that provides camouflage in their rocky mountainous habitat; large, padded feet that act as natural snowshoes; and long, woolly tails that provide warmth and balance as they navigate steep terrain.”
Playing peek-a-boo.Terria Clay©WCS
The snow leopard is listed as a vulnerable species. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, an estimated 7,000 snow leopards remain in the wild.
WCS works on snow leopard conservation through breeding and animal care at its zoos, as well as field projects in areas where the species is found.
Snow leopards relaxing at the Bronx Zoo.REUTERS/David “Dee” Delgado
Other animals zoo visitors can see at the Himalayan Highlands exhibit include the red panda and white-naped crane.
The Bronx Zoo now has eight snow leopards.REUTERS/David “Dee” Delgado