Timid leopard cubs snapped at zoo (From Surrey Comet)

Timid leopard cubs snapped at zoo

1:40pm Sunday 5th October 2008

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It has been a long wait, but the three leopard cubs born at Chessington Zoo in June have finally plucked up the courage to venture from their den.

These long-awaited photographs show them finally exploring their enclosure with their mum, who they stick with at all times.

The Persian leopard cubs are the second litter for their six-year-old mum Shakira and dad Kalaf, 14.

Chessington Zoo’s senior carnivore keeper Jon Merrington said: “We were really surprised when we found out Shakira had given birth to three cubs, especially as, due to his age, this might be the last litter that Kalaf fathers.”

Cyrus and his sisters Soraya and Tahmine were first photographed on September 19 and have been coming out of their nest box a little at a time since.

The active youngsters are still feeding on their mum’s milk but recently started trying their teeth out on the bones of her meals too.

The cubs are an essential addition to the international breeding programme that Chessington World of Adventures is a member of.

“Warfare in their native Iran and neighbouring countries has resulted in near extinction of Persian leopards in the wild,” said Mr Merrington. “The birth of three healthy cubs at Chessington is crucial to the survival of such a beautiful and fascinating species.”

The triplets are still quite shy, hiding behind logs, but can be seen on the specially designed cub cam when they retreat to their nesting box.

The cubs are part of a baby boom at the zoo this year with a number of new arrivals including:

• Kabus and Kelabu the Sumatran tiger cub.
  
• One spider monkey called Chiquita.
  
• One binturong - the first to be born in the UK for 10 years - called Sunti.
  
• Three otter pups.
  
• The first ever king vulture chick to be born and parent reared in the UK.
  
• Two red-footed Tortoises called Hugh and Murray.
  
• Igor the pygmy goat.
  
• Six kune kune piglets.
  
• 12 ferrets.
  
• Five bantam chicks.
  
• Seven ducklings.
  
• One polecat.
  

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