A rare Amur leopard cub was born at Vienna's Schonbrunn Zoo in Austria.

The little male cub arrived in early November, marking the first birth of the species at the zoo since 2018, following the lifting of a breeding ban by the European Endangered Species Programme.

Zoo Director Dr Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck said: 'Like all big cats, Amur leopards are altricial. The cubs are born blind and must first grow and develop accordingly.'

Over time, the creature began peeking out and was eventually carried outside by his mother, playfully exploring the outdoor enclosure.

Footage shows him climbing a tree slowly before carefully making his way down on his own.

Amur leopards are among the rarest mammals on Earth, now surviving in only two to three per cent of their original range. Most live in Leopardovy National Park in eastern Russia, with a small population in northeastern China.

The total population is estimated at around 120 animals, threatened by poaching and uncontrolled logging.

Curator Rupert Kainradl said: 'Together with other zoos, we have been committed to preserving this species since 2016 as part of a European Endangered Species Programme.

'However, offspring are very rare. Last year, only seven young animals were born in four facilities across the 30 institutions of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria that keep this species. This makes our offspring here at the zoo all the more valuable.'