ianmichaelthomas
Mumma Meo!
Mumma Meo! I was entranced yesterday by our beautiful five month old snow leopard cubs and their mother, Meo, pictured here.
I am still learning to properly use my new Olympus E520 DSLR, but this is one of my favourite photos of Meo
It is not always easy nor indeed possible to eliminate the cage wire from the photos, but this time, Meo came quite close to the perfect position!
Meo and her cubs were quite slow to come into their yard, preferring to stay in their night den. Eventually her cubs wandered to the extreme right hand side of the enclosure, and peering over the side fence, into the next yard - that of their father Leon!
The cubs were trying to see Daddy.
Meo was keeping a close-eye on them all, and at one stage sprinted over to the side-fence, perhaps as a warning for Leon to keep his distance.
In any event, there are secure fences between them, so the cubs are very safe.
Just as well, as on the OTHER side, there is an adult Persian Leopard, and it often climbs up the fence to look straight at the cubs - no doubt seeing them as tasty snacks - though it would have to face a VERY angry Meo first!
The female cub is called Tashi and the male cub is called Gobi.
Tashi is the Tibetan word for lucky, while Gobi is the name of a large national park in southern Mongolia where the snow leopards are found in the wild.
Tashi and Gobi are the first snow leopards born at RMZ in 20 years, so they are extremely loved and cherished, and will be a source of delight for RMZ staff and visitors for years to come.
The cubs are utterly adorable and gorgeous.
Their mother Meo is a very relaxed mother, and is doing well.
Only a week ago, the cubs were weaned off Meo's milk, and now just eat meat.
The cubs were born Dec 7 2008 to first-time Mum Meo and Father Leon.
Meo is 6yo, and came to RMZ in June 2003 from her birthplace at Stuttgart Zoo, Germany, and Leon was born at Taronga Zoo in October 2001 and came to RMZ in October 2007.
Royal Melbourne Zoo, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Mumma Meo!
Mumma Meo! I was entranced yesterday by our beautiful five month old snow leopard cubs and their mother, Meo, pictured here.
I am still learning to properly use my new Olympus E520 DSLR, but this is one of my favourite photos of Meo
It is not always easy nor indeed possible to eliminate the cage wire from the photos, but this time, Meo came quite close to the perfect position!
Meo and her cubs were quite slow to come into their yard, preferring to stay in their night den. Eventually her cubs wandered to the extreme right hand side of the enclosure, and peering over the side fence, into the next yard - that of their father Leon!
The cubs were trying to see Daddy.
Meo was keeping a close-eye on them all, and at one stage sprinted over to the side-fence, perhaps as a warning for Leon to keep his distance.
In any event, there are secure fences between them, so the cubs are very safe.
Just as well, as on the OTHER side, there is an adult Persian Leopard, and it often climbs up the fence to look straight at the cubs - no doubt seeing them as tasty snacks - though it would have to face a VERY angry Meo first!
The female cub is called Tashi and the male cub is called Gobi.
Tashi is the Tibetan word for lucky, while Gobi is the name of a large national park in southern Mongolia where the snow leopards are found in the wild.
Tashi and Gobi are the first snow leopards born at RMZ in 20 years, so they are extremely loved and cherished, and will be a source of delight for RMZ staff and visitors for years to come.
The cubs are utterly adorable and gorgeous.
Their mother Meo is a very relaxed mother, and is doing well.
Only a week ago, the cubs were weaned off Meo's milk, and now just eat meat.
The cubs were born Dec 7 2008 to first-time Mum Meo and Father Leon.
Meo is 6yo, and came to RMZ in June 2003 from her birthplace at Stuttgart Zoo, Germany, and Leon was born at Taronga Zoo in October 2001 and came to RMZ in October 2007.
Royal Melbourne Zoo, Parkville, Victoria, Australia