Rare clouded leopard cubs introduced to public at Paris zoo

The Jardin des Plantes Park Zoo has publicly announced the birth of two female cubs of the rare, highly endangered, southeast Asian Clouded Leopard species.



Two female cubs, Pati and Jaya, of the rare and highly endangered Clouded Leopard species (Neofelis nebulosa), made their first public appearance on July 22, 2010 at the Jardin des Plantes Park Zoo in Paris, France. The cubs were born May 14, 2010, however, zoo officials waited until July to release information about the cubs until they were confident of the health of the mother and the cubs. The same set of parents had two cubs last year, as well.



Clouded Leopards generally reach sexual maturity at the age of two. They have one litter per year of two to four cubs. According to The Smithsonian National Zoological Park, 76 Clouded Leopard cubs were born at their facility over the past 30 years and they have learned that the best way to achieve captive breeding of this species is to introduce the male and female at a very young age to avoid aggressive behaviour.