Two new snow leopard cubs born at Metro Richmond Zoo

The Metro Richmond Zoo has added two snow leopard cubs to their roster.

Why it matters: If you don’t like baby animals, are you OK?


The big picture: They’re fuzzy, they’re clumsy and were born about four months ago in April.

  • At five days old, they were 1.5 pounds and have since grown to nearly 13, the zoo announced Wednesday .
  • They didn’t start walking or crawling until the 3-to-4-week mark.

Photo: Courtesy of the Metro Richmond Zoo

Their names — Sasha and Kira — are tied to the region snow leopards are native to: the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia, like the Himalayas, zoo spokesperson Taylor Andelin tells Axios.

  • They both like climbing and wrestling together but Kira is “more adventurous” while Sasha is “shy but super sassy,” per a news release.

Fun fact: Snow leopards are nicknamed the “ghosts of the mountains” because of their smoky-gray fur, which blends them into their surroundings.

  • They’re also in the movies “The Golden Compass” and “Kung Fu Panda.”

What’s next: You can see them on exhibit Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays.

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