Your morning adorable: Leopard cubs at Germany's Hannover Adventure Zoo
A leopard named Saia gave birth to two cubs at Germany's Hannover Adventure Zoo on May 31, and photographer Nigel Treblin got a close-up look at them today. The cubs, which haven't yet been named, weighed slightly more than a pound at birth (average for newborn leopard cubs). As adults, they're likely to weigh about 130 pounds.
Leopards are more comfortable in trees than any other place; they're known not only to hunt by pouncing on prey animals from tree branches, but also for their tendency to drag their kill into trees so they can eat without disruption from scavengers such as hyenas. Fun facts: Leopards are excellent swimmers, and, though they prefer to eat ungulates (hoofed mammals such as antelope) and monkeys, they're also known to eat fish now and then.
More photos of the cubs and their mother after the jump!
-- Lindsay Barnett
Photos: Nigel Treblin / AFP/Getty Images
"Adorable," no kidding! And Mom is absolutely beautiful.
Posted by: Tom | July 29, 2009 at 09:24 PM
Oh My Gosh! they are so cute. Absolutely gorgeous
Posted by: Harry | August 04, 2009 at 08:57 AM