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Toronto Zoo announces births of 2 new snow leopard cubs

Jita and her two new snow leopard cubs that were born overnight on May 15. — Jita and her two new snow leopard cubs that were born overnight on May 15. Photo credit: Toronto Zoo.

By Meredith Bond

Posted May 16, 2024 12:21 pm.

The Toronto Zoo has announced the birth of two cubs from their three-year-old snow leopard Jita.

Jita’s cubs were born on May 13 and May 14. The first cub was born at 7:45 p.m., while the second was born in the early hours of the next morning. Nine-year-old Pemba sired them after a 97-day pregnancy.

“Jita is doing very well as a first-time mother and is diligently nursing, grooming, and cuddling her ‘snowballs’,” read a press release from the Zoo.

The snow leopard is currently listed as a vulnerable species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Toronto Zoo is currently participating in the snow leopard Species Survival Plan, a cooperative breeding program to help maintain a sustainable population of snow leopards in human care.

Currently, Jita and her cubs are not visible to guests visiting the zoo, but updates will be shared in the coming days and weeks on when guests will be able to view the new snow leopards.

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