Zookeepers are offering a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes habitat of two rare – and adorably fluffy – Amur leopard cubs.
The new additions to Brookfield Zoo in Chicago can be seen in the video below as they play, pounce and follow their mom – Mina – around their enclosure.
With fewer than 100 left in the wild, Amur leopards are critically endangered. The cubs represent the world’s rarest big cat and are part of the zoo’s ongoing conservation efforts.
They were born on July 14. At two months old, they just had their first wellness exam, including being weighed and getting vaccinated against viruses and parasites.
“They are gorgeous and appear healthy, weighing about 6 and 6.4 pounds,” said Dr. Copper Aitken-Palmer, senior veterinarian at Brookfield. “This eight-week exam was the first step towards getting them outside to meet the world, hopefully in time to see our first snowfall.”
While the cubs are far from their native Russia, they are expected to do well in Chicago as Amur leopards thrive in cold temperatures. Brookfield Zoo says “their ultra-thick coats and long tails help them stay warm in winter, making Chicago feel a lot like home.” Amur leopards are considered to be the rarest big cats in the world.
The cubs’ mother Mina, an 8-year-old Amur leopard, arrived at Brookfield from the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in October 2021 as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan. The plan works to maintain healthy and genetically diverse populations of threatened and endangered species by placing the animals in accredited zoos.
The cubs’ father, Sasha, was born at Brookfield Zoo Chicago in 2020, according to zoo officials.
The animal care staff continues to monitor the family closely.
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