The first snow leopard cub to be born at Chester Zoo has now been revealed as female.

Following its first health check with Chester Zoo's vets, the cub was examined, sexed, weighed and vaccinated by the zoo's specialist vets and carnivore keepers.

Born on 10 June 2025, the tiny cat spent the first few weeks of life curled up in a den with mum, Nubra.

Keepers say the playful new arrival is growing in strength and confidence every day, with Nubra watching over her new cub closely.

The tiny cat spent the first few weeks of life curled up in a den (Image via: Chester Zoo)

"At eight weeks old, the cub has undergone the first of two all-important health checks," said Mark Brayshaw, head of mammals at Chester Zoo.

"We're very happy to report that the cub was given a clean bill of health and we can finally reveal that it is indeed a female. Now comes one of the toughest tasks of all - choosing a name worthy of such a special arrival.

"What matters most though, is that we have a thriving cub that represents real hope for this magnificent species.

"Snow leopards are disappearing from the wild, and every birth is a vital step forward for the conservation breeding programme.

"Here at Chester, we're combining this work with vital projects in Asia alongside the Snow Leopard Trust, and together, we're determined to secure a future where these iconic big cats can once again thrive."

Only around 4,000 snow leopards remain in the wild (Image via: Chester Zoo)

Parents Nubra and Yashin were carefully paired together at Chester Zoo in 2024 as part of an international conservation breeding programme that's working to protect snow leopards from extinction.

Their cub is the result of a coordinated global effort to create a healthy safety-net population in the world's leading conservation zoos.

Listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), only around 4,000 snow leopards remain in the wild.

The species is under growing threat from habitat loss, climate change, poaching and human-wildlife conflict.