The wait is over, Grand Rapids. John Ball Zoo’s tiniest (and possibly fluffiest) new resident finally has a name (and it’s as sweet as she is). Meet Juniper, the snow leopard cub who’s already stolen hearts across West Michigan.
Born on July 28 to proud mom Yuki, this little ball of spotted fluff has been the star of social media updates all month long. From her first check-up to the moment she opened her eyes, fans have been following every paw step of her journey.
The zoo has even described her as “a little spicy ball of fur,” which feels like exactly the kind of personality we’d expect from a snow leopard with that much attitude packed into such a tiny package.
So why Juniper? According to the zoo, her name is a nod to the juniper trees that grow high in the Himalayas, which is right in the native range of snow leopards…