We’re excited to introduce some new faces in the snow leopard exhibit! Two cubs, one male and one female, were born this summer to mother Dariga, and father Naltar. Naltar is the offspring of Leo who came to the Bronx Zoo in 2006 after being rescued as an orphaned cub in Pakistan.
According to keepers, the female cub is a little more independent, while the male is more cautious and stays closer to its mother. The young snow leopards love to play with enrichment toys, and are enjoying exploring the exhibit as well as seeing the snow leopards in the neighboring exhibits. They’ve recently received bones for the first time – another milestone!
Snow leopards have evolved to live in high elevations in the mountains of central Asia – some of the harshest conditions on Earth. Their beautiful white-gray coats blend in with the terrain of rocky, high mountains. Large padded feet help better distribute their weight—like natural snow shoes—and their long, thick wooly tails help with balance and keeping warm. Snow leopards are also skilled climbers and jumpers, able to leap from rock to rock both horizontally and vertically – something visitors to the exhibit will likely see the cubs practicing!
Rarely seen in the wild, snow leopards, sometimes called “ghosts of the mountain” are one of the world’s most elusive big cats. The Bronx Zoo is a world leader in snow leopard care and husbandry and participates in a Species Survival Plan program, a cooperative breeding program designed to enhance the genetic viability of animal populations in zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. We’ve had more snow leopard births—at 80—than any other zoo in North America and were the first zoo in the United States to exhibit the big cats in 1903. The zoo currently has 10 snow leopards.
Look for the cubs in the Himalayan Highlands exhibit during your next visit!
