3 Snow Leopard Cubs Born At Cleveland Zoo [Video]

CLEVELAND, OH — Three baby snow leopards were born at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on April 22. The trio are healthy and have been bonding with their mother — Sombra, an adult snow leopard usually kept Primate, Cats & Aquatics building.

The zoo announced the birth of the cubs on Thursday. The trio includes two males and one female. They were all born weighing a little over one pound.

Zoo officials said the cubs will need to develop and continue to bond with each other and Sombra before moving into a visible space in the zoo. Later this summer, the snow leopards will be moved to the new Asian Highlands habitat that will be home to the zoo's snow leopards.

Check out video of the cubs below.

The father of the snow leopard cub trio is Amga. Sombra, the zoo's adult female snow leopard, gave birth in 2016 to Sameera. The entire family will eventually be visible in the Asian Highlands space.

Also in the Asian Highlands space will be an Amur leopard, red pandas and takin, a goat-antelope species that will be coming to the zoo for the first time.

Snow leopards are endangered due to poaching, habitat loss and prey loss, the zoo said. Fewer than 7,000 snow leopards are living in the remote mountains of central Asia, their primary habitat.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has been working with the conservation organization Snow Leopard Trust since 1998. The zoo said it is committed to securing a future for the species.

The zoo is currently putting the finishing touches on its new Asian Highlands destination area, which the snow leopards will eventually call home. The state-of-the-art space is set to open in mid-June. The space will enhance animal habitats and create a more engaging guest experience with a focus on conservation.

Photo from Cleveland Metroparks Zoo