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Three Sri Lankan leopard cubs born at the Singapore Zoo on January 1 have made their first public appearance, marking a significant milestone for conservation breeding efforts.
The cubs—two males and one female—were born to parents Yala and Asanka, making them the first Sri Lankan leopards ever born at the zoo. The last recorded successful birth of the species in Singapore dates back around 30 years at the Night Safari.
The trio is part of an extremely rare population, with Sri Lankan leopards numbering only around 80 individuals in zoos worldwide. In the wild, the species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with fewer than 800 believed to remain.
Visitors can now view the cubs at the Wild Africa exhibit, according to the Mandai Wildlife Group. The cubs will remain on display with their mother daily until mid-May, after which viewing will be limited to select days each week.
Curator Anand Kumar of Mandai Wildlife Group said the successful birth followed nearly three years of careful planning and international collaboration to match compatible breeding pairs.
He added that the cubs are already showing distinct personalities—the two males appear more relaxed, while the female is notably more active and assertive. Keepers can even distinguish them through subtle differences in behaviour and spot patterns on their foreheads, similar to fingerprints.
The cubs were declared healthy after their first veterinary check-ups in February and have since received vaccinations and preventive care, including deworming treatments.
The birth is part of a broader wave of wildlife arrivals at Singapore’s conservation parks in early 2026, including endangered species such as a Bornean orangutan and a pangolin, highlighting ongoing global breeding efforts for threatened animals.
