Baby Boom of Endangered Species

Jao Chu (JOW-chew), a 3-year-old endangered clouded leopard, gave birth to a female cub at 5:30 p.m. Staff had been on a pregnancy watch for several days. Mother and cub are doing well.

The birth represents the second time Jao Chu and 3-year-old Hannibal have produced offspring. Jao Chu gave birth to two male cubs March 24—Sa Ming (SAH-meeng), “brave warrior,” and Ta Moon (TAH-moon), “mischievous child.”

As with the first litter, the newest cub also will be hand-reared by experienced Zoo staff to help with socialization and to reduce the risk of infant mortality. This genetically valuable cub will increase the gene diversity of the North American Clouded Leopard Species Survival Plan.

Photo Credit: Mehgan Murphy/Smithsonian's National Zoo