Endangered snow leopards born at Banham Zoo

Only one year after moving into their new enclosure, Rocky and Enif, Banham Zoo’s pair of snow leopards, two of the zoo’s rarest residents, have produced 3 cubs, which are very important for the European breeding programme for this endangered species.

The pair have been together since 2008 when, at the behest of the snow leopard studbook coordinator, Banham Zoo brought Enif to the UK from Tokyo Zoo, Japan. She is descended from a vitally important male within the breeding programme. At that time Enif had no other living descendents in the European breeding programme and breeding from her was regarded as a high priority.

 

Keepers first noted mating activity last year, but as Enif was only 4 years old at the time, she didn’t conceive until this year, when following several successful matings keeping staff were sure their precious female was pregnant and started to make the preparations for the birth.

A purpose built cubbing box, complete with infrared CCTV cameras in all 4 corners, has allowed the staff to monitor the cubs progress audibly and visually during their first few days. An exterior monitor screen has now been switched on to allow visitors the unique opportunity to see the cubs during the first weeks of their life when normally they would be hidden from view.

Snow leopards are listed as endangered by the IUCN with the population decreasing in the wild. They are listed on CITES Appendix I, this status is afforded to the world’s rarest animals and helps assist in the fight against illegal trade in live animals or their body parts and skins. The European breeding programme currently consists of 197 individuals and Enif is regarded as one of the 5 most important animals within that programme with only a total of 454 animals housed in zoos and wildlife parks throughout the world. There are estimated to be between 3,500 and 7,000 animals left in the wild .

The cubs will remain at the zoo for at least 18 months after which they will be mature enough to be transferred to other zoos within the European breeding programme, helping to preserve this species future.