SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, June 2, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — Newly named Amur leopard cubs Caspian and Emilio are now exploring their outdoor habitat at Asian Highlands at Hogle Zoo.
The brothers previously stayed behind the scenes with their mother, Zeya, since their births on Feb. 18 at the zoo.
“As they acclimate to their habitat, the cubs and Zeya have access to indoor areas and may not always be visible to guests,” the Hogle Zoo coming out announcement says.
“Animal care teams used the behind-the-scenes time to perform regular checkups and build relationships with the cubs to start early training, which helps them learn to participate in their future care.
“Training includes tracking a target, moving to different areas, voluntarily stepping onto a scale, and safely taking food from their animal care team.”
It’s been about four years since Zeya last had cubs, the statement says, “and we are happy everything has been so smooth for them and our pro mom, Zeya.”
Brittany Dowdell, Asian Highlands Animal Care Supervisor, said both boys “take after their mom with a dash of spice in their personalities, but never giving spice without Zeya nearby to back them up.
“Caspian has been leading the way in exploring, while Emilio tends to stay in Zeya’s shadow,” Dowdell said.
“Watching them grow and learn the ropes a little more each day has been such a rewarding experience.”
Hogle Zoo is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Daily schedules and cub updates are available on social media @HogleZoo. Find more information and purchase tickets at hoglezoo.org
A cub with mother Zeya. Photo: Hogle Zoo.
Amur leopard conservation
These cubs represent an important milestone in protecting the critically endangered Amur leopard, found in the temperate forests of Russia and China, the statement says.
“With as few as 130 mature individuals left in their natural habitat, Amur leopards are among the rarest cats in the world. These nocturnal, solitary cats face ongoing threats from habitat loss, prey scarcity, low genetic diversity, poaching, and illegal wildlife trade.”
Though relatively small, Amur leopards can reach speeds of up to 35 miles per hour and are powerful, silent hunters capable of taking down prey three times their size. As top predators, they play a critical role in maintaining healthy forest ecosystems.
Guests can support the conservation of forest wildlife, like the Amur leopard, by choosing wood and paper products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which promotes sustainable practices and protects vital habitats worldwide.
Zeya. Photo: Hogle Zoo
