Meet the ‘snowballs’: Snow leopard at Toronto Zoo gives birth to 2 cubs

When Jita's pregnancy was announced, the Toronto Zoo expressed some caution given that first-time pregnancies present challenges with large carnivores like snow leopards.

Jita, the Toronto Zoo’s nearly three-year-old snow leopard, has given birth to her first cubs, staff there say.

In a Facebook post Thursday, the zoo said Jita gave birth to two cubs. When her pregnancy was announced, the zoo expressed some caution given that first-time pregnancies present challenges with large carnivores like snow leopards.

“Jita is doing very well as a first-time mother and is diligently nursing, grooming, and cuddling her ‘snowballs,’” the zoo said.

“Her wildlife care team is monitoring the new family closely via CCTV cameras to minimize any disturbance, and will be closely observing the development of the cubs.”

The zoo added that Jita went into labour following her 97-day pregnancy on Monday, giving birth to her first cub that night, with the second following in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Jita and her new cubs are not currently visible to guests visiting the zoo, but it promised it will share when guests will be able to see them.

Jita’s pregnancy was complicated by the fact the expected father, Pemba, has sired prior litters but medical complications meant none of his cubs survived.

Nine-year-old Pemba was introduced to Jita in early February on a recommendation from the snow leopard Species Survival Plan — a co-operative breeding program among accredited North American facilities, the zoo said.