World first ultrasound on snow leopard in UK zoo reveals she is PREGNANT

• EXCLUSIVE: Laila gave birth to a boy and a girl cub named Spot and Stripe 
• UK sanctuary is believed to have carried out the world’s first ever ultrasound  

In what is believed to be a world first a British sanctuary have successfully taught Laila, a female Snow leopard, to willingly undergo an ultrasound examination.

The breakthrough scan revealed that Laila was pregnant, with not one but two cubs, allowing the keeping team to begin preparations and support her in her third pregnancy at The Big Cat Sanctuary team in Kent, led by Simon Jackaman.

Video of the scan shows Laila ‘snacking’ and happily resting on her side as the veterinarian gently glides the ultrasound scanner across the Snow Leopard’s pregnant tummy. The deep bond and trust between Laila and Simon, having successfully worked with her for several years, has helped make her latest pregnancy run smoothly.

On the afternoon of Saturday, 1st July 2023, the Big Cat Sanctuary’s CCTV cameras captured the fantastic birth of not one but two beautiful Snow leopard cubs to parents Laila and Yarko.

Third-time mum Laila has taken motherhood in her stride, and the Sanctuary could not be prouder.

Joy! Ultrasound reveals Lalia is pregnant in what is believed to be the first time such equipment has been used on a snow leopard in captivity in the UK 

In what is believed to be a world first a British sanctuary have successfully taught Laila, a female Snow leopard, to willingly undergo an ultrasound examination at the Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent

The two cubs, nicknamed ‘Spot’ and ‘Stripe’ as the female cub, have a long stripe running down her back and had their first health check around a week old, revealing that Laila had given birth to a boy and a girl

The cubs will stay inside their den with mum Laila for around two months and take their first steps outside after being fully vaccinated

Curator Briony Smith said: ‘We were pleasantly surprised to receive another recommendation to breed our pair of Snow leopards, Laila and Yarko. They have been the perfect parents for two litters so far, and we are so grateful they could make a third, very valuable contribution to the conservation of their species.

We were even more thrilled to have had our first little snow leopard girl born at the Sanctuary. Both cubs are doing incredibly well, and we are excited to see them grow.’

The two cubs, nicknamed ‘Spot’ and ‘Stripe’ as the female cub, have a long stripe running down her back and had their first health check around a week old, revealing that Laila had given birth to a boy and a girl. The male weighed 550g, and the female weighed 660g.

The cubs will stay inside their den with mum Laila for around two months and take their first steps outside after being fully vaccinated.

This week the Sanctuary is open to the public for their annual open days, and guests will be able to see the cubs on CCTV.

Trustee Lynn Whitnall added: ‘We are absolutely delighted that Laila and Yarko, our snow leopards, have given birth to two beautiful cubs at The Big Cat Sanctuary. 

‘This is the third time Laila and Yarko have been successful with breeding cubs as part of the European Breeding Programme, and we are proud that their previous cubs have moved on to other zoos and wildlife parks all around the country. 

‘With less than 6,000 snow leopards remaining in the wild, these newest arrivals will play a vital role in ensuring that we have snow leopards around for future generations to see and appreciate.’

Snow leopards are an endangered species and are classed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with around 4,000-6,000 remaining in the wild. Snow leopards face significant threats in their natural habitat as they are poached for their fur and the illegal medicine trade.

The male snow leopard cub weighed 550g while the female weighed 660g

Snow leopards are an endangered species and are classed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with around 4,000-6,000 remaining in the wild

Laila and Yarko have partnered for many years as a breeding pair, and this is their third litter. They first became parents in 2019 and gave birth to two boys, Koshi and Khumbu, who are both part of the Snow leopard breeding programme. Koshi moved to Highland Wildlife Park and has started a family of his own and has three cubs. Last year, Khumbu moved to Twycross Zoo, hoping to do the same.

In 2021, Laila gave birth to Shen, a beautiful male Snow leopard cub. Shen has recently embarked on a new adventure and has moved to Banham Zoo as part of the breeding programme, just like his two older brothers.

The Big Cat Sanctuary is part of the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme, helping to create a safety net for endangered species in the wild. Located in Kent, UK, it is a renowned facility dedicated to conserving and protecting endangered big cats.

With a team of experienced professionals and state-of-the-art facilities, the Sanctuary provides a safe and nurturing environment for a variety of big cat species, including lions, tigers, leopards, and cheetahs. The Sanctuary works with the local and international community through education, research, and conservation initiatives.

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