Two critically endangered Amur leopard cubs have started exploring the outdoors at Utah’s Hogle Zoo.
Caspian and Emilio were born on February 18, 2026, and moved into the outdoor habitat in Asian Highlands in early June. They still have access to indoor space, and guests may see the family moving between the two through the day.
Telling them apart
Caspian has a white spot on his front paw, the same marking his mother Zeya carries. The zoo describes Zeya as an experienced and attentive mother who lets the brothers range while reining them in when she needs to.
What happened behind the scenes
The cubs spent their first months bonding with Zeya out of public view. Before going outside they were examined several times by the zoo’s animal health teams to check their overall condition and to give them three rounds of vaccinations.
Care staff also began building training relationships with them during that period, work that teaches young animals to take part in their own future veterinary care rather than be handled for it.
