Mama leopard gives birth to 2 cubs at Utah's Hogle Zoo

SALT LAKE CITY — A mama leopard is cuddling her two new baby cubs she just birthed at Utah's Hogle Zoo.

Zeya, the 13-year-old Amur leopard, gave birth on Wednesday to two cubs. These cubs are the sixth litter from Zeya and her partner Dmitri, who is also 13.

"Zeya is demonstrating strong maternal behaviors. Hogle Zoo's animal care team has been observing Zeya and the cubs through high-definition cameras, noting attentive care and consistent nursing. They have also heard soft grunts and early vocalizations inside the den," the zoo said.

The mama can be seen cuddling and grooming her babies as they stretch and play in a video the zoo released on social media.

"The cubs have been wiggling and wobbling their way toward Mom and one another as they begin to navigate their surroundings," the zoo said.

Amur leopard mothers tend to stay secluded in their dens after birth. Cubs are born blind, with their eyes not opening until seven to 10 days after birth, and are completely dependent on their mother in their first week of life.

Because of this, the leopards will stay in their private den behind the scenes being monitored by animal care and health teams during the first few months of life. Visitors can expect to see the babies sometime this summer, the zoo said.

Zeya and Dmitri are a breeding pair recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Together, they aid the Amur leopard species survival plan, which aims to ensure sustainability of the critically endangered species.

"The birth of these cubs represents an important milestone in protecting the critically endangered Amur leopard, found in the temperate forests of Russia and China. With as few as 130 mature individuals left in their natural habitat, Amur leopards are among the rarest cats in the world," the zoo said.

Amur leopards are on the smaller end of big cats but can reach speeds of up to 35 mph.

The "powerful, silent hunters (are) capable of taking down prey three times their size. As top predators, they play a critical role in maintaining healthy forest ecosystems," the zoo said.

The cubs are not the only new residents at the zoo. Last month, the zoo announced the birth of Hal the giraffe, weighing 139 pounds, and a whopping 5 feet, 8 inches tall.

A western lowland gorilla named Mary is also expecting and could be giving birth any day now, the zoo announced.

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