Rare Sri Lankan leopard gives birth to 3 cubs in Singapore Zoo

On January 1, three Sri Lankan leopard cubs were born at the Singapore Zoo, increasing the total number of these rare animals at Mandai Wildlife Reserve to seven. The last birth of a leopard in Mandai occurred nearly 30 years ago in 1997. Currently, the Singapore Zoo houses six Sri Lankan leopards, with one additional leopard residing at the Night Safari. In a post on Instagram on January 23, Mandai Wildlife Reserve shared that the cubs and their mother are bonding together away from public view. However, visitors can catch a glimpse of the cubs through a live camera at the leopard exhibit in the Singapore Zoo. There are fewer than 800 Sri Lankan leopards left in the wild, where they primarily hunt animals such as deer and wild boar. These big cats typically live for 10 to 12 years in the wild, but they can live up to 20 years in captivity. The Sri Lankan leopard has excellent night and day vision, and its patterned fur allows it to blend into its surroundings, keeping it safe from poachers who target it for its luxurious coat. Mandai Wildlife Reserve seems to be experiencing a little baby boom; just days after the leopard cubs were born, two capybara pups were also welcomed, marking the first time in about ten years that capybaras have given birth there. The unnamed pups bring the total number of capybaras in Mandai to 13.