There is exciting news from the Cairngorms after Highland Wildlife Park welcomed the arrival of two rare snow leopard cubs, the first litter born at the park in four years.
The twins were born on 25 May to first time mother Pari and father Koshi, giving conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts plenty to celebrate.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland has released footage from inside the den showing Pari caring for and nursing the young cubs during their first weeks of life.
For now, the cubs will remain safely inside the den with their mother before gradually venturing towards the entrance over the coming weeks.
As they grow, they will continue learning essential skills from Pari and are expected to stay with her for up to two years.
Lucy Petrie, Animal Care Manager at Highland Wildlife Park, said:
“After months of carefully introducing Koshi and Pari and giving nature the opportunity to take its course, we’re delighted to see that patience pay off.
“We are really looking forward to our visitors meeting them as they grow and take their first steps outside of the den in the next few weeks.”
Snow leopard cubs are born blind and completely dependent on their mother.
Their eyes usually open around a week after birth and for the first two months they rely entirely on milk before gradually moving on to solid food.
Park staff are closely monitoring Pari as she adjusts to motherhood for the first time.
Lucy added:
“Pari is a first-time mum, so we are keeping a close eye on how she is coping. Her instincts have kicked in and she is doing a wonderful job of raising the cubs.”
In the wild, snow leopards are solitary animals and mothers raise their young alone.
To mirror this natural behaviour, Koshi is currently living separately from Pari and the cubs until they are old enough to be introduced to him.
The sex of the cubs is not yet known and will be confirmed during their first veterinary health checks.
While the arrival of two playful cubs is certain to delight visitors, conservationists say their significance goes far beyond their undeniable appeal.
Snow leopards remain under pressure across parts of their natural range in Central Asia, where habitat loss, climate change and human conflict continue to threaten populations.
Lucy said:
“While the cuteness is an excellent reason to be excited, it’s even better for the snow leopard population, which is decreasing in the wild.
“These new faces are going to be great ambassadors for their wild relatives, helping raise awareness of the challenges this beautiful and enigmatic species face every day.”
For Highland Wildlife Park, the arrival of the twins is a welcome conservation success story and a reminder of the important role modern wildlife parks can play in protecting some of the world’s most remarkable animals.
Visitors hoping to see Pari, Koshi and the snow leopard cubs can book online and save at highlandwildlifepark.org.uk/tickets
