We’ve been sitting on some spot-on news! On May 5, 2026, Anya, a 12-year-old critically endangered Amur leopard, became a second-time mom to a sweet singleton cub. The cub was recently confirmed to be a female, and is doing well behind the scenes with Anya.
The cub, who will be named by a generous donor, is already capturing the hearts of the few humans who have seen her, with bright, twinkling eyes, striking black spots, and perfectly round ears. Since her birth, she has spent her days nestled close to Anya, nursing, exploring her habitat, and beginning to discover the world through play.
In these early months, Anya and her cub have spent lots of time bonding as the youngster grows more curious and confident each day. While the cub is still a bit cautious around her care team, she continues to gain confidence at her own pace with Anya by her side. Keepers often see the pair resting together, nursing, playing, and exploring their behind-the-scenes space as the cub learns by watching her experienced mom’s trusting relationships with her care team. Recently, she started venturing out of the nest box more frequently and climbing on just about everything she can.
“The cub is doing really great and hitting all the milestones we could hope for,” Basia Dann, senior animal keeper in Asian Highlands, says. “While she’s a little shyer than Anya’s first cubs, Basha and Mango, she’s a total mama’s girl. Because she’s the only cub, she gets plenty of one-on-one time with Anya and is learning by following her mom’s lead. She has no hesitation batting at Anya’s tail, play wrestling with her, and following her around. She’s also a big fan of whipped cream, just like Anya. We are using whipped cream to show the cub that she can trust us to be close to her, but we’re following her timeline and respecting her pace and space.”
Amur leopards typically give birth to one to four cubs per pregnancy. In 2023, Anya and Anadyr welcomed two male cubs, Basha and Mango, who have since moved on to other facilities. Their birth marked a significant milestone for Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, coming nearly 20 years after the last Amur leopard cubs were born at the Zoo. Anya’s care team is confident she will continue to raise this cub with the same success she demonstrated with Basha and Mango.
“With only one little this time around, Anya seems to have even more energy,” Basia says. “Anya is doing a great job as a second-time mom, keeping a watchful eye on her cub while also giving her plenty of opportunities to explore, climb, and build confidence. The cub is starting to mimic her mom more and more, which is great because Anya is an excellent leopard, student, and teacher. We recently noticed that when Anya paws through hay or other substrate to find her food, the cub follows suit and starts pawing just like her mom.”
Amur leopards are widely known as the rarest big cats on the planet. The cub is adorable, certainly, but her existence is also significant hope for the future of their species. Only around 100 individuals remain in the wilds of far east Russia and China. CMZoo’s Amur leopards currently represent three percent of the wild population.
That’s why CMZoo has been committed to the Amur Leopard Species Survival Plan (SSP) and accepted the risky breeding recommendation in 2019. Dad, 11-year-old Anadyr, will not have an active parenting role for the cub, as is normal for male Amur leopards. Because both Anya’s and Anydyr’s genetics are underrepresented in both wild and human care populations, this cub is considered very important within the SSP.
The tiny, bouncy cub’s arrival is a powerful reflection of the long-standing commitment to the Amur Leopard SSP and a meaningful reminder that these conservation efforts are making a real difference.
For now, Anya and her cub will continue bonding behind the scenes as the cub grows more curious and confident each day. The cub does not have a name yet, but the Zoo will share updates when she gets a name and ventures into guest view.
