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Hidden cameras capture ADORABLE footage of Chester Zoo’s first ever snow leopard cub
A truly historic moment for the UK's largest conservation zoo.
Emily Sergeant -
24th July 2025 
The first ever snow leopard cub to be born at Chester Zoo in its 94-year history has been captured on hidden cameras.
And we seriously can’t cope with how cute it is.
After arriving to first-time parents Nubra and Yashin, who are both three-years-old, on last month (10 June 2025), keepers at Chester Zoo say mum and cub have since spent time quietly tucked away in a cosy den, away from the eyes of the onlooking public – but thankfully, all of their adorable early moments have been caught on the zoo’s den cams.
Carnivore experts at the zoo say Nubra is showing ‘excellent maternal instincts’ by nursing her new arrival every few hours and always keeping close by, only leaving the den momentarily to feed.
Now, at six-weeks-old, the cub has gained in strength and confidence, and experts say they could start to venture outside at ‘any moment.’
Zookeepers say they will confirm the sex of the cub at a later date once it has undergone its first health check-up with the vets.
Snow leopards are classed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and it’s believed that there are as few as 4,000 now remaining in the wild.
Nicknamed the ‘ghosts of the mountains’, these elusive – but adorable – big cats are found in the rugged, remote regions of Central Asia and the Himalayas, but sadly, despite being known for living in desolate, harsh environments, they continue to face threats from habitat loss, climate change, poaching, and retaliatory killings by farmers.
The cub’s birth follows the opening of Chester Zoo’s Himalayan habitat in May 2024, which is a vast, rocky environment that authentically recreates the mountainous terrain of Central Asia.
“This is the first snow leopard cub to be born at Chester Zoo,” commented Dave Hall, who is the Team Manager of carnivores at Chester Zoo.
“It’s a truly historic moment and a real cause for celebration – not just for our teams here, but also for the future of this magnificent species globally.
“The cub is now just six-weeks-old AND it’s still really early days, but new mum Nubra has taken to motherhood brilliantly and is showing excellent maternal instincts. This is her first cub and she’s doing an exceptional job of caring for her little one.
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“Since the cub was born, our carnivore team has kept the den area nice and peaceful and stayed well away, instead using CCTV cameras to monitor the cub’s development.
“It’s just fantastic to see the cub growing stronger and more confident each day, and what’s really exciting is that it could decide to follow mum Nubra outside at any moment to start exploring the outside world.”
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
