Rare baby leopards born in Paris

Two rare Southeast Asian clouded leopards have been pictured for the first time since they were born at a Paris zoo in May. The two female cubs, named Pati and Jaya, have made their first appearance to the public in recent days at the zoo in the Jardin des Plantes park.

They were born May 14. Out of tradition, the zoo did not send out a birth announcement until now because it wanted to make sure the mother and babies were in good health. Two other cubs were born last year to the same parents.

The cats, known for their rare patterned pelts, are threatened by poachers and loss of habitat in Southeast Asia and parts of China. The Smithsonian National Zoo said it was difficult to estimate how many remained in the wild because they were, by nature, reclusive.


/Telegraph.co.uk/