Highland Wildlife Park’s newest stars have reached another important milestone after keepers confirmed the much loved snow leopard twins are a boy and a girl.

The cubs, who were born in May to mum Pari and dad Koshi, underwent their first routine health check at eight weeks old, with veterinary staff confirming both are healthy and developing well.

During the examination, the pair were weighed, had their eyes and teeth checked, received their first vaccinations and were wormed and microchipped as part of their ongoing care.

Both cubs tipped the scales at around 3.5 kilograms, with wildlife park staff delighted by the progress they have made since their birth earlier this year.

The arrival of the twins marked another significant moment for Highland Wildlife Park, which plays an important role in the conservation of one of the world’s most threatened big cat species.

Lucy Petrie, Animal Operations Manager at Highland Wildlife Park, said:

“We were thrilled to welcome two snow leopard cubs to mum Pari and dad Koshi earlier this year.

“It is very exciting to find out we have a boy and a girl and that they are both in good health.

“They are becoming more confident every day and it is incredible to see them grow and develop.

“It is lovely to see how excited visitors are when they catch a glimpse of the cubs as they explore further from the cubbing den.”

Although growing in confidence, the cubs are still heavily dependent on their mother and continue to spend much of their time inside the safety of their cubbing den.

As the weeks go by, visitors are expected to see more of the playful pair as they venture further into their enclosure, discovering their surroundings and developing the skills they will need as they grow.

Snow leopards are classified as vulnerable in the wild, making successful births in conservation programmes particularly important for the long term future of the species.

For visitors to Highland Wildlife Park, however, the focus is likely to be much simpler, catching a glimpse of two curious youngsters beginning to explore the world, one careful step at a time.

Visitors can book park tickets online in advance and save at highlandwildlifepark.org.uk/tickets