Zürich, Switzerland - July 10, 2025 Three male snow leopard cubs born at Zurich Zoo on May 9, 2025, have started venturing out of their whelping box into the larger Panthera habitat for the first time. At birth, the cubs were blind, deaf, and completely dependent on their mother, spending most of their early weeks resting. Now, after about two months, they are independently exploring the mountainous section of their enclosure. In the coming weeks, they will gradually discover the other parts of the habitat, including deciduous forest, clearing, and dry forest. Their fur already shows the typical dark rosettes and spots that provide essential camouflage in the snow leopard’s natural alpine environment. This camouflage protects them from predators early on and later helps them hunt stealthily among rocks, snow, and grasses. Snow leopards can leap up to 16 meters and rely on their long bushy tails to maintain balance in rugged terrain. Despite being skilled hunters, snow leopards face threats from humans, primarily due to poaching for their dense fur and body parts used in traditional medicine. Combined with climate change and habitat loss, these pressures have caused a rapid decline in wild populations. Currently, only about 3,000 sexually mature snow leopards remain in the wild, leading the IUCN to list the species as endangered. To help prevent extinction, Zurich Zoo participates in the European Endangered Species Breeding Program (EEP), which supports international breeding efforts to maintain a stable reserve population. Snow leopards differ anatomically and behaviorally from other big cats in the Panthera genus. Their short snout and long tail aid stability and agility in mountainous terrain. Unlike lions and tigers, snow leopards cannot roar and feed in a crouching position rather than lying down.