New cubs take their first steps
TWO new arrivals are on the prowl at Twycross Zoo.
A pair of female snow leopards have been born, the third pair to be born to mum Irma and dad Suou.
The clawed cubs spent their first month with their mother in a den off-show, to give them time to adapt to their environment.
They will learn about their new world as they play together and with their now experienced mother, exploring their habitat in the Himalaya Centre.
Dad Suou may also be providing some discipline, but as a solitary species the father rarely gets involved in rearing cubs.
Miguel Bueno, curator of Living Collections, said: “The two girls are growing at an incredible rate and their mother Irma is doing a fantastic job looking after them.
“She has been amazing since their day one and I am sure these little girls will grow into strong and healthy females that will help our efforts in maintaining a sustainable population.”
Keepers hope the two youngsters will become the next generation of breeding females in other zoos, to help conserve the elusive species.
They are important for the international breeding programme Twycross helps maintain, with zoos across the world acting as a safety net for the species in the wild.
Two boys were born to Irma and Suou in 2013, and a boy and a girl in 2011.
All four of them have since moved on to zoos across Europe.
The mother came from a zoo in Sweden and the father from Japan, arriving at Twycross in 2010.
Between 4,000 and 6,500 snow leopards live in their natural home across the high mountains of Central Asia.
But their population has decreased by around 20 per cent over the past 16 years.
They are often killed by farmers, as they prey on livestock, and are hunted for their warm far.
Their breeding season lasts from January to March, with cubs being born some 100 days later.
Cubs stay with their mother until they are between one and two years of age, when they start to become independent and mark out their own territory.
The Himalaya Centre is open to the public from 10am to 6pm each day.
Visitors can watch a slide show of the latest photos of the cubs if they are not outside the den.