Incredibly rare ‘snowballs’ born at Canada zoo. Take a look at the cuddling cubs
In the mountains of central Asia, only a rare few ever catch a glimpse of a fearsome feline.
Called a “ghost cat,” the snow leopard maintains an “elusive” reputation as one of the rarest cats on the planet.
But now, the threatened population has just gained two new members — in Canada.
On May 14, twin snow leopard cubs were born to first-time mother Jita at the Toronto Zoo, the zoo announced in a May 16 Facebook post and YouTube video.
“Wildlife Care, watching on remote cameras, observed her labored breathing as well as circling and rolling (signs of impending birth),” the zoo said.
Jita was pregnant for 97 days, the zoo said, but it quickly came to an end.
The first cub was born just 15 minutes later, followed shortly by their spotted sibling.
“Jita is doing very well as a first-time mother and is diligently nursing, grooming, and cuddling her ‘snowballs,’” the zoo said.
Hoping to minimize any disturbance, the animal care team is continuing to monitor the cubs through video surveillance as Jita spends time with her new babies, according to the post.
Snow leopards are rarely spotted in the wild, according to the zoo, and are listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list.
The new babies were planned as part of a Species Survival Plan, a program organized through zoos and aquariums to maintain the genetic diversity of rare animals in North American facilities, Toronto Zoo said.
“The forecast was right: we have snow in May!” the zoo said.
There may be fewer than 7,000 snow leopards left in the wild, according to the Snow Leopard Trust, and they spend most of their lives alone.
Mothers raise their cubs on their own for about 18 months, according to the trust, before the cubs are released to hunt ibex, argali and sheep high in the mountains.
The cubs are not yet visible to guests at the Toronto Zoo, but updates will be shared over the coming weeks on their progress, the zoo said.
This story was originally published May 20, 2024 at 11:50 AM with the headline "Incredibly rare ‘snowballs’ born at Canada zoo. Take a look at the cuddling cubs."
