ZooBorns

One Week Old Leopards!

These stunning pictures from two days ago show Point Defiance Zoo's newest litter of Clouded Leopard babies at one week of age, right when their eyes are beginning to open!

Photo credit: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Clouded Leopard Babies Are Back!

Photo credits: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium's endangered Clouded Leopard, Chai Li, gave birth to two healthy cubs yesterday, one female (photo) and one male. It is Chai Li and Nah Fun's second litter and mom and cubs are doing well. Learn more about the birth at the zoos web page about the cubs and stay tuned for more photo and video updates!

Meet Libby, Point Defiance Zoo's Sea Otter

Little Libby was found orphaned off the coast in California late April. She is the youngest and smallest sea otter that Monterey Bay Aquarium has successfully rehabilitated. She arrived at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium on November 2 and is currently 30 pounds. Libby has formed a close bond with Point Defiance's next youngest sea otter, Kaladi, and the two of them love to splash and play!

Photo credits: Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium

Meerkat Kit Peeks Out From Under Mom

This little Meerkat named Kingsley (after British explorer Mary Henrietta Kingsley) was born August 22 at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, WA. He spends most of his time tucked under his family members, mainly his mother, Darwin.  

Meerkats are sexually mature at about one year. The females can have as many as three litters a year. There is no breeding season, and favorable conditions can lead to an increase in births.  After an 11 week gestation, an average of three offspring are born.  Babies are usually weaned between 49 and 63 days. Both mother and father may provide care to the offspring. Meerkats lifespan is from 5-15 years. 

Meerkats are highly social and live groups called mobs, which made up of as many as three family groups (up to 30 individuals total). Each family group is made up of parents and their offspring. Kingsley is doing well  and getting to know his extended family.

Photo Credit: Seth Bynum / Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Look Ma... No Paws!!

The Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium's 2-month-old Clouded Leopard cubs born June 14th are growing up fast and struttin' their stuff in pictures taken Friday.  Point Defiance Zoo is one of only three zoos in the country breeding endangered Clouded Leopards, along with the Smithsonian's National Zoo and The Nashville Zoo.

Photo credits: Seth Bynum / Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Two Tiny Clouded Leopard Cubs Get Their Names

The Point Defiance Zoo's 6-week-old Clouded Leopard cubs received their names on Thursday July 28. The male will be called TAJI, meaning “little brother" in Burmese, and the female is SUMALEE, meaning “flower" in Thai. Most of the names in the poll were Thai because Thailand is one of the native habitats for the endangered Clouded Leopards. The Zoo had more than 5,000 votes submitted to its naming poll.

Photo credits: Point Defiance Zoo

 

Many more pics below the fold...

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Point Defiance Zoo's Clouded Leopards at Nine Days

The Clouded Leopard twins born on June 14th at Point Defiance Zoo are back!  These new photos from the zoo show the cubs, which are being hand-raised at just 9 days old. Point Defiance Zoo is one of only three zoos in the country breeding endangered clouded leopards, along with the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo & the Nashville Zoo. The birth of the cubs at Point Defiance Zoo brings the total number of cubs born this year in the United States to eight.

Photo credits: Point Defiance Zoo

Clouded Leopard Cubs in the Palm of Your Hand

Chai Li, a female Clouded Leopard at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, gave birth to a litter of two cubs Tuesday, June 14. This is Chai Li’s first litter. She and the cubs’ father, 23-month-old Nah Fun, were born at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand and put together as a future breeding pair when they were five days old. “There is nothing cuter than Clouded Leopard cubs,” said staff biologist Andy Goldfarb, who has worked with exotic cats for 25 years. “They appear healthy and are doing well.”

Photo credits: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Point Defiance Zoo is one of only three zoos in the country breeding endangered clouded leopards, along with the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo & the Nashville Zoo. The birth of the cubs at Point Defiance Zoo brings the total number of cubs born this year in the United States to eight.

Pumpkin Cat Toys for Point Defiance's Tiger Twins

The Point Defiance Zoo's newest SumatranTiger cub twins got a special Halloween treat this week as you can see in the video below. Bima, a male, and Mali, a female, have been growing steadily since their birth May 25th, but still have a long way to go before they reach their adult weight of up to 300lbs. Keepers say the cubs names, which were selected by the public, are quite fitting. “Their new names match their personalities perfectly,” said staff biologist Andy Goldfarb. “The male, Bima, really is brave. He’s always the first to explore and try new things. His sister, Mali, is so beautiful and elegant.” The pictures were taken at 8 weeks but the video is from just last week.