Cub X delights visitors

Our newest arrival enjoyed a busy weekend with visitors galore at the snow leopard enclosure.

  And the cub, who was born on May 2, delighted everyone with five-minute playarounds with mum, Nanga, aged four   Keepers have nicknamed the youngster Cub X until they confirm its sex, and are thrilled that both mum and babe are settling in well.   Assistant Curator, Richard Brown, said: “Nanga is a first-time mum so it’s such a relief that they have bonded well.    “You can see the baby developing every day, it’s wonderful to watch, and already it seems quite a feisty little cub.”   Photographer Tal Chohan, who captured this image of Cub X, said: “The youngster’s routine at the moment is to sleep for two hours, play for five minutes, sleep for two hours, then play for another five minutes, so I had to make sure I got there in time for those crucial five minutes!”   The cub is the first snow leopard to be born at DZG in 12 years. Dad is three-year-old Margaash.  

Snow leopards

Following a 90 to100 day gestation cubs are born with full black spots which turn into the characteristic rosette pattern as they grow. Cubs remain with their mother until they mature at 18-22 months.

The species originates from Central Asia, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Kazahkstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan where they inhabit remote scree slopes and forests between altitudes of 1,800m and 5,500m.

Size: length: 120-150 cm, tail: 70-100 cm, height: 60 cm

Weight: 25-75 kg

Conservation status: IUCN listed Endangered