Two baby snow leopard cubs, Momo and Nima, have emerged from their indoor den to explore the outdoor habitat at Marwell Zoo in Hampshire for the first time. The cubs, born 13 weeks ago, recently received their second round of vaccinations, prompting their keepers to report increased adventurousness.
Momo, whose name means ‘dumpling’ in Tibetan, and Nima, meaning ‘sun,’ were born in May to mother Zaya, aged three, and father Warjun, aged four. This marks the first time snow leopard cubs have been born at Marwell Zoo in 13 years.
Senior carnivore keeper Ashleigh Ball stated that the cubs and their mother have had a quiet space to bond since their birth, with the option to access their outdoor enclosure at their own pace. "Now the cubs are bigger and growing in confidence every day, they're becoming much more adventurous," Ball said. "They can still choose whether to spend time inside or outside, but they're increasingly curious about their surroundings, and visitors now have an even better chance of seeing them."
The cubs underwent a 13-week general health check-up following their vaccinations, which they passed successfully. "The cubs have had a second round of vaccinations to protect them from diseases and a 13-week general health check-up which they passed with flying colours," Ball added.
Snow leopards are classified as 'vulnerable' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List, with an estimated 3,000 individuals remaining in the wild. Their natural habitats in the rocky mountains of Central and South Asia are threatened by development, farming, and climate change.