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Link to newsround

Spots of joy: Snow leopard cub born at UK sanctuary

Newly born snow leopard cub.The Big Cat Sanctuary/PA

The adorable new snow leopard is stealing hearts at The Big Cat Sanctuary

This tiny ball of fur, nicknamed Little Lady, was born at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent on 10 May.

The snow leopard cub was born to mother Laila who is part of the sanctuary's breeding programme.

She weighed just 630g when she had her first health check at five days old.

Snow leopards are a vulnerable species

Snow leopard lying on a rock.Getty Images

In the wild, snow leopards live in 12 countries across central Asia, and are usually found in high mountainous landscapes like the Himalayas

Snow leopards are listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list.

There are an estimated 2,700 to 3,300 mature adults remaining in the wild.

Climate change is having an impact on them, with a predicted loss of 30% of their habitat in the next 50 to 100 years.

They are also threatened by poachers who hunt them for the illegal wildlife trade.

Conservationists say that breeding programmes are really important for the future of the species.

Vet performing ultrasound on snow leopard Laila.Gareth Fuller/PA

Laila has had four litters of cubs

Little Lady was born to Laila, who has lived at the sanctuary for a long time.

This is her fourth litter as part of the sanctuary's breeding programme.

She has previously had two male cubs, Koshi and Khumbu, in 2019 and another male cub, Shen, in 2021.

Laila then became a mother to twins, Attan and Zaya (one male, one female), in 2023.

Laila the snow leopard pictured when she was pregnant.Gareth Fuller/PA

Laila is the proud mum to six cubs

The sanctuary are also praising Laila's primary trainer Simon Jackaman for the birth of Little Lady.

They say that the trust he built with her meant she let the vet do the ultrasound sessions voluntarily.

Mr Jackaman said: "Snow leopards are naturally shy and elusive, so Laila amazed the sanctuary staff with her "calm nature" during the process."

Little Lady is now doing really well under the care of Laila and the Big Cat Sanctuary team.