Chester Zoo is home to some very cute animals; however, the zoo has recently welcomed another adorable addition. Hidden cameras have captured a first glimpse of a rare snow leopard cub at Chester Zoo, making it the first of its kind to be born at the zoo in its 94-year history.
“A truly historic moment” – the first snow leopard cub to be born at Chester Zoo
After arriving to first-time parents Nubra and Yashin on Tuesday, 10th June 2025, mum and cub have since spent time quietly tucked away in a cosy den – with all of their adorable early moments caught on the zoo’s ‘den cams’. Now, at six weeks old, the cub has gained in strength and confidence and could start to venture outside at “any moment.” Zookeepers say they will confirm the sex of the cub at a later date once it has undergone its first health check-up with the zoo’s vets.
Parents Nubra and Yashin were carefully matched together in 2024 as part of an international conservation breeding programme that’s working to ensure a healthy back-up population for the highly endangered species in the world’s leading zoos.
Dave Hall, Team Manager of carnivores at Chester Zoo, said: “This is the first snow leopard cub to be born at Chester Zoo. It’s a truly historic moment and a real cause for celebration – not just for our teams here but also for the future of this magnificent species globally.
“The cub is now just six-weeks-old AND it’s still really early days, but new mum Nubra has taken to motherhood brilliantly and is showing excellent maternal instincts. This is her first cub and she’s doing an exceptional job of caring for her little one – feeding regularly and staying snuggled away in a cosy, behind-the-scenes den, where the pair has been quietly bonding and getting to know one another. Since the cub was born our carnivore team has kept the den area nice and peaceful and stayed well away, instead using CCTV cameras to monitor the cub’s development.
“It’s just fantastic to see the cub growing stronger and more confident each day. What’s really exciting is that it could decide to follow mum Nubra outside at any moment to start exploring the outside world.”
The cub’s birth follows the opening of Chester Zoo’s Himalayan habitat in May 2024 – a vast, rocky environment that authentically recreates the mountainous terrain of Central Asia using more than 600 tonnes of scree and stone.
Snow leopard fact file
Snow leopards are classed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with as few as 4,000 now remaining in the wild. Nicknamed the ‘ghosts of the mountains’ the elusive big cats are found in the rugged, remote regions of Central Asia and the Himalayas. Despite being known for living in desolate, harsh environments, they continue to face threats from habitat loss, climate change, poaching and retaliatory killings by farmers as they prey on livestock.
Their distinctive features include thick fur for insulation, large paws for balance on steep terrain, and a long tail for balance and warmth. Snow leopards also have exceptional leaping and athletic ability, enabling them to cover great distances in pursuit of prey animals.