Hidden cameras capture first glimpse of rare snow leopard cub born at UK zoo

A Historical Birth in Chester Zoo

On June 10, 2025, the Chester Zoo in the United Kingdom received its first-ever snow leopard born in the park. Their parents, Nubra (♀) and Yashin (♂), both three-year-old, were matched carefully in 2024 as part of an international conservation breeding program.

The mother and the cub have been followed through den cams since birth. The cub is now six weeks old and is now a lot bigger and soon, will be able to make its first steps outside.

The birth is a landmark not just to Chester Zoo but to the rest of the world in its conservation of this Vulnerable species which faces the risk of losing its habitat, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. 

🔍 Why It Matters

The IUCN includes the snow leopard as a Vulnerable species, and estimates a wild population of circa 4,000 animals.

It is crucial that breeding programs such as the Chester Zoo breeding program exists to ensure that there are a genetically healthy insurance population should future reintroductions occur or provide an additional genetic input to a wild population.

Looking Forward

Visitors can be given an opportunity to have a glimpse as the cub becomes more active and visible. Chester Zoo has welcomed visitors to view this interesting and rare youngster one of the first.

A mountainous habitat, the Himalayan habitat of the zoo-introduced in May 2024-provides a beautiful environment that resembles the terrain of Central Asia and, therefore, allows the new family to feel more comfortable in the new environment.