Snow leopard cub that captured the hearts of millions named
The little snow leopard has a new name and is showing a playful streak as she ventures outside for the first time.
A rare snow leopard cub, the first to be born at Chester Zoo in its 94-year history, has taken her first steps outside.
The litlte cub has an excellent sense of timing, as keepers have revealed her name following thousands of public suggestions.
After receiving thousands of name suggestions from zoo visitors and online followers around the world, conservationists have chosen the name Bheri.
The name is a nod to the cub’s mountain origins, with “Bheri” being named after a river in Nepal that runs through the Himalayas - a fitting tribute to the rugged, high-altitude landscapes where snow leopards roam.
Born to first-time parents Nubra and Yashin, the 10-week-old cub has spent her early weeks snuggled away in a secluded den with mum. During this time, intimate moments captured on the zoo’s ‘den cams’ quickly went viral, captivating animal lovers across the globe.
Now, for the first time, the female cub has ventured out to explore the zoo’s Himalayan habitat - with zookeepers sharing images of her big moment.
After several weeks of watching Nubra and her cub behind the scenes on our cameras, it’s just fantastic to see Nubra gently guide her precious cub into the outside world for the very first time. She is already so full of confidence and character as she playfully explores her new surroundings.
Rachael Boatwright, Assistant Team Manager of carnivores at Chester Zoo
The cub is the first to be born at Chester Zoo, as part of the European endangered species breeding programme - a vital conservation initiative working to safeguard a healthy and genetically diverse population of the rare big cats in leading conservation zoos across the European continent.
Alongside its conservation breeding work, Chester Zoo is also helping to protect the species by working alongside the Snow Leopard Trust and communities in Kyrgyzstan to reduce human-wildlife conflict, protect vital habitats and support sustainable livelihoods that benefit both people and wildlife.
We were overwhelmed by the volume of name suggestions we received. In the end, we decided to honour the cub’s wild mountain roots, where our teams work closely with the Snow Leopard Trust to protect this species in the wild. We feel that, naming her Bheri is a fitting tribute to that important work.
Rachael Boatwright, Assistant Team Manager of carnivores at Chester Zoo