The Newest, Cutest Baby Animals from the World's Zoos & Aquariums

Belgium Welcomes First Baby Snow Leopard

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Belgium's Planckendael Zoo is proud to announce the debut of Laila, the first Snow Leopard cub ever to be born in the country. A short while after her birth in April, Laila's mother Maili's health declined rapidly and, sadly, she did not survive. Planckendael keepers stepped in and have raised the orphaned cub by hand. It is believed that only between 4,000 and 6,000 Snow Leopards remain in the wild. Laila represents an invaluable new bloodline for the European Snow
Leopard Breeding Program.

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Eyes

Hangin-out

Full
Photo Credits: Zoo Planckendael

Many more pics and another video below the fold…

Bottle

Bucket

Tongue

Hunting

Den

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21 responses to “Belgium Welcomes First Baby Snow Leopard”

  1. Jennifer Sigman Avatar
    Jennifer Sigman

    WAAANNNT!!!! How beautiful and playful!

    Reply
  2. LonelyFatGuy Avatar
    LonelyFatGuy

    Ah, so that’s why I haven’t seen them in their cage the last couple of times I was there. They were indoors, goin’ at it like the dirty little snow leopards they are…

    Reply
  3. Safira Avatar
    Safira

    I want a job where I get to cuddle baby snow leopards.

    Reply
  4. DaMamaJama Avatar
    DaMamaJama

    Is it wrong that I want to quit my job and become a zookeeper just so I can play with animals?

    Reply
  5. Tina Rhea Avatar
    Tina Rhea

    If I thought I had a hope, I’d go to Belgium to volunteer for that.

    Reply
  6. Lauren Robb Avatar
    Lauren Robb

    Her eyes are so gorgeous!

    Reply
  7. Lisa Avatar
    Lisa

    I agree — the eyes are incredible. And that’s some squeal — it could break glass.

    Reply
  8. Kerry Payne Avatar
    Kerry Payne

    So sad she hasn’t got other big cats to live with.

    Reply
  9. Tee 'n' the Wildlife Avatar
    Tee ‘n’ the Wildlife

    Thank you so much, Belgium, for the lovely photos and the wonderful little videos. More, please! So too bad she lost her mama so soon, but thank goodness she is in a safe place with many loving human beings to care for her while she is still a baby. It’s hard to be an only child–does she have stuffed animals to snuggle and wrestle with? How fortunate you great big humans are to be able to spend time and cuddle and play with her little sqeaky self. Love that roly-poly tummy and that lovely rolling baby walk!

    Reply
  10. Tee 'n' the Wildlife Avatar
    Tee ‘n’ the Wildlife

    Just looked at her photos again. She’s a “natural:” her personality comes right through th lens! Among other looks she shows us, I recognize that look of intent as she’s being fed: “Gimme dat formula!” So lucky for her that she had her mother for a few days, anyway, to get those good mommy things from her milk. She’ll grow up big and strong with “purrsonality” to spare!
    Best of luck, little one!

    Reply
  11. Holy Cuteness Avatar
    Holy Cuteness

    I would love to bottle feed the cutie!

    Reply
  12. Mariela Avatar
    Mariela

    he looks so adorably ferocious ! <3

    Reply
  13. Glenna Normyle Avatar
    Glenna Normyle

    Such cute baby cats. I would love a job caring for these babies. How fun it must be to play with them and watch them grow up!

    Reply
  14. M.SATHYAMURTHI Avatar
    M.SATHYAMURTHI

    VERY VERY NICE I WILL SHOW TO THE KUTTY TODAY NIGHT.

    Reply
  15. kristinabomb Avatar
    kristinabomb

    Abso-frickin-lutely not. 😛
    I’ve been thinking about it myself recently. Haha.

    Reply
  16. Tina Rhea Avatar
    Tina Rhea

    I watch this little girl’s videos every day. It’s hard to believe that the people in them actually get PAID to take care of her! I’d pay for the chance!

    Reply
  17. Sibylle Avatar
    Sibylle

    Congratulations Belgium, its so wonderful to get a snow leopard cub and she’s a beauty.
    Zoos are playing an important role to generate genetic diversity for these rare cats but hopefully the work of conservationists will mean they have a future in the wild too.
    http://www.snowleopardblog.com

    Reply
  18. Manderz Avatar
    Manderz

    then you should be jelous that my job is the caretaker of the baby leapord at the phoenix zoo =)

    Reply
  19. Pippa Avatar
    Pippa

    Look at her baby blues!!!!!! I would love to see her but shes all grown up now. I wonder how she is doing?

    Reply
  20. vicky Avatar
    vicky

    hello im a student from st pauls and im doing my gcse and i thought that your photo was very nice and i would like to use it in my website for my gcse my i please use your photo thank you very much.

    Reply
  21. Chris Eastland Avatar
    Chris Eastland

    Hi Vicky, as long is its not for commercial purposes, and if you credit the Zoo/Aquarium and photographer credit as we have in our post, you should be ok.
    Chris.

    Reply

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