Baby fever: Snow leopard cub born at John Ball Zoo
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The animal population at John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids just got a new addition, welcoming a new snow leopard cub earlier this month.
The birth announcement came on Monday saying the parents, Yuki and Mylo, welcomed the female cub on June 6. The zoo said the cub is currently being held behind the scenes with Yuki until they are ready for the public display.
A new snow leopard cub was welcomed to John Ball Zoo on June 6. (John Ball Zoo) A new snow leopard cub was welcomed to John Ball Zoo on June 6. (John Ball Zoo) A new snow leopard cub was welcomed to John Ball Zoo on June 6. (John Ball Zoo)
“We’re so excited to welcome Yuki and Mylo’s cub, who is doing well and receiving attentive care behind the scenes at the Zoo,” Jaime Racalla, the animal care supervisor at John Ball Zoo, said. “John Ball Zoo is proud to help contribute to the conservation of snow leopards through strategic breeding and excellent animal care.”
This is the third recent birth at the zoo. Three lynx kits and three penguin chicks were all delivered over the past few weeks.
Snow leopards are considered a threatened species and JBZ worked with the the Species Survival Plan Program to bring Yuki and Mylo together in hopes of producing an offspring. This was the zoo’s first attempt at mating the two snow leopards since Yuki joined in 2023 and Mylo in 2021.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
