Banham Zoo's rare Sri Lankan leopard cubs venture outside five weeks after their celebrated arrival

Two rare Sri Lankan leopard cubs have been born at a zoo.

The new arrivals were born at Banham Zoo on June 4 and ventured outside for the first time this week.

Mother and father Sariska and Mias are the only pair of Sri Lankan leopards currently in a breeding programme within the UK, with around 775 animals remaining in the wild.

Animal manager Mike Woolham described well-managed captive breeding programmes as vital for the sub-species.

Mr Woolham, who has been responsible for Sri Lankan leopards at the zoo for 20 years, said: “Working with big cats is an absolute privilege.

“Sri Lankan leopards are, capable of taking prey much larger then themselves and yet are capable, especially with their cubs, of amazing acts of gentleness.”

The leopards are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s list of vulnerable species.

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