It’s the news we’ve all been for… Chester Zoo has confirmed the sex of its viral snow leopard cub after its first vet health check.
In case you need bringing up to speed, the new baby arrived to first-time parents Nubra and Yashin, who are both three-years-old, earlier this summer on 10 June, and since then, keepers at Chester Zoo said mum and cub had mostly spent their time quietly tucked away in a cosy den, away from the eyes of the onlooking public.
But just last week, it was time for the little one to see what the outside world is all about, and the zoo’s cameras captured it venturing outside for the very first time.
Back then though, we were still awaiting confirmation of the cub’s sex.
Now, Chester Zoo has confirmed that the adorable ball of fluff was taken to the zoo’s specialist vets and carnivore keepers this week to be examined, weighed, vaccinated, and most importantly, ‘sexed’ – and finally, it has been revealed as a female.
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Keepers say the playful new arrival is now eight weeks old and growing in strength and confidence every day, with mum Nubra watching over closely.
“At eight weeks old, the cub has undergone the first of two all-important health checks,” explained Mark Brayshaw, who is the Head of Mammals at Chester Zoo.
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Chester Zoo has confirmed the sex of its viral snow leopard cub after its first vet health check / Credit: Chester Zoo
“These quick examinations by the zoo’s vets are really important for us to make sure the cub is healthy and in good physical condition.
“We recorded the cub’s weight, checked its heartbeat, eyes, and teeth before swiftly returning the cub to mum Nubra, [and] we’re very happy to report that the cub was given a clean bill of health and we can finally reveal that it is indeed a female.
“Now comes one of the toughest tasks of all – choosing a name worthy of such a special arrival.”
Snow leopards are classed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and it’s believed there are as few as 4,000 now remaining in the wild.
Stay tuned to find out the little one’s name, expected to be revealed very soon.
In fact, you might as well throw in your own suggestion – we’ve already offered ours…
How about Medo? 🥹
It means ‘little flower’ in Tibetan, the same as her mother’s tongue. 🌼
Chester Zoo is offering £1 tickets to families who ‘struggle to afford’ a festive day out
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo is offering £1 tickets this Christmas to families who may otherwise struggle to afford a festive day out.
Christmas is a time when many of us feel strapped for cash more than ever before, especially for those families on Universal Credit, which is why Chester Zoo is embracing the season of giving by offering thousands of locals the chance to visit the UK’s largest charity zoo for a fraction of the price of normal entry tickets.
The discounted tickets will be available for anyone claiming Universal Credit on visits from today (18 December) right up until New Year’s Ever (31 December), and they’ll need to be booked online in advance.
This brilliant initiative is a new addition to the zoo’s long-running Community Connections Scheme, which aims to reduce financial barriers to visiting for households and community groups.
Chester Zoo is offering £1 tickets to families on Universal Credit this festive season / Credit: Chester Zoo
Tickets priced at £1 will be available to people receiving Universal Credit, including claimants of Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support or Jobseeker’s Allowance, and Housing Benefit.
Chester Zoo said the scheme is designed to help families on lower incomes enjoy the zoo during the festive period and connect with nature.
“We know that spending time outdoors and around wildlife can have a really positive impact on people, and we hope this helps more families enjoy a special day out together over the festive period, especially when this time of year can be difficult for many,” commented Charlotte Smith, who is Chester Zoo’s Director of Conservation Education.
“We hope this brightens the season for many more households.”
A maximum of six people per household can attend under the scheme – with children aged 12 months and under and carers admitted free of charge.
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
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One in 10 Brits are fired or disciplined after their work’s Christmas party, new survey finds
Emily Sergeant
We’re in peak office Christmas party season right about now.
With just under two weeks to go until the big day itself is here, many businesses across the UK are treating their staff to night out to celebrate both the festive season and all of the hard work they have been putting in throughout the year… and as you can expect, these are usually quite eventful gatherings, shall we say.
But now, a survey by has shed light on just how ‘eventful’ they actually are, as a new survey has revealed that, apparently, one in ten Brits face some sort of disciplinary action or dismissal due to their behaviour at Christmas parties.
The study was conducted by After Drink, and included more than 2,000 participants.
During the research, it was highlighted that 89% of employees admitted to drinking alcohol at these events, Lad Bible reports – with 65% of these confessing that they drank “excessively”.
One in 10 Brits get fired or disciplined after their work’s Christmas party / Credit: Kraken Images | Mimi Thian (via Unsplash)
There are a multitude of incidents which could lead to disciplinary action in the workplace nowadays, but according to the survey, some of the common reasons following festive celebrations with colleagues included inappropriate comments (23%) and even getting into fights (21%).
16% of these incidents were because of drug use during the event, while inappropriate interactions with colleagues accounted for 14%.
Some of the legal reasons you can be fired from your place of work after a Christmas party include gross misconduct, drunken behaviour, and fighting of any kind.
Despite all these risks, however, Christmas parties still remain as popular as always, and a whopping 79% of respondents said they are planning to attend theirs this year.
Emily Sergeant -
8th August 2025 
