The arrival of a newborn has a wonderful way of prompting a flurry of cute cards, messages, gifts, and well wishes, but when the baby is among the rarest-of-the-rare, the celebratory expressions take on an urgency and deep poignance.
And the baby that arrived at the Santa Barbara Zoo on Aug. 6 is giving plenty of feline fans those exact feels, for this little bambino is an Amur leopard. There are only around 100 Amur leopards remaining in the wild, making the birth a sweet victory for the Amur leopard Species Survival Plan.
Eager to see more snaps of the sweet girl? Find the photos of her first weigh-in below, discover her name, and learn other tender tidbits about the thrilling new arrival.