Hogle Zoo announces birth of two snow leopard cubs
Jun 7, 2024, 2:00 PM | Updated: 3:45 pm

Babs, a snow leopard at the Hogle Zoo, sits on a rock. (Hogle Zoo)
(Hogle Zoo)
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s Hogle Zoo welcomed two snow leopard cubs early on Tuesday morning.
The zoo reported in a press release that a team watched through cameras as the mom, named Babs, had one cub around 6:40 a.m. and the second cub around 7:55 a.m.
The zoo said Babs and the cubs are doing well. While the cubs spend time with their mom and adapt to their environment, they will not be visible to guests.
Babs came to the zoo in 2021 with Chim, the cubs’ father, on a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Snow Leopard Species Survival Plan. According to the zoo, Babs came from the Toledo Zoo.
The zoo said this is Babs’ first pregnancy.
A vulnerable species
The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list of Threatened Species currently lists the snow leopard as a vulnerable species.
According to the IUCN, there are many reasons the leopard falls into this category. The reasons listed range from residential and commercial development to climate change and severe weather.
The list pointed out that poaching poses a threat to the species.
According to the IUCN, in 2016 over 90% of annual poaching was estimated to occur in China, Mongolia, Pakistan, India and Tajikistan.