Adorable Snow Leopard Cub Born At Brookfield Zoo [SEE PHOTOS HERE]
CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Here's something that will be sure to put a smile on your face.
Brookfield Zoo announced Wednesday the birth of a female snow leopard cub born on May 22.
Currently, there are 137 snow leopards living in 53 institutions in North America. Brookfield Zoo has exhibited snow leopards since 1936.
According to Brookfield Zoo, snow leopards are listed as a vulnerable species on the Red List by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization. The Snow Leopard Trust, estimates there are from 3,500 to 7,000 of these elusive cats remaining in the wild. Native to the sometimes harsh and remote habitats throughout the mountain ranges of Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Threats to the species include habitat loss, illegal hunting for the fur trade, a decline in their prey, civil unrest, and retribution killing following livestock losses.
The zoo said species is definitely well suited for living at extreme elevations. Snow leopards have long, thick fur that is soft gray or cream in color covered with graying black spots helping it blend in with its environment. Its large paws help keep the cat from sinking into the snow like snowshoes. They are excellent jumpers and use their long tails, which is nearly as long as their entire bodies, for balance as well as for covering exposed body parts against severe weather conditions.
