Woodland Park Zoo is celebrating the arrival of three jaguar cubs born on March 22 to first-time parents Junior and Nayla.
Weighing just 10 pounds each, these tiny newcomers are already displaying distinctive traits that set them apart.
Nayla has proven to be a protective and attentive mother, keeping her cubs out of sight for weeks. It wasn’t until a recent veterinary check-up that zoo staff confirmed all three cubs—a male and two females—are healthy and thriving.
Each cub has a unique personality:
- The Firstborn: The smallest of the trio, this female is fiercely independent and often leads her siblings in playful adventures.
- The Secondborn: The male is the largest and prefers staying close to Nayla, earning him the nickname “mama’s boy.” Though shy, he’s also the most vocal of the group.
- The Thirdborn: This female enjoys mimicking her older sister and roughhousing with her brother.
Jaguar births are rare and especially significant as jaguars are classified as “Near Threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). These cubs symbolize a vital step in the zoo’s ongoing efforts to support jaguar conservation.
Woodland Park Zoo’s Jaguar Conservation Fund plays a critical role in addressing threats such as habitat destruction, conflict with ranchers, and the depletion of wild prey.
Since its establishment, the fund has provided $113,806 to 19 projects in 12 countries across North, Central, and South America.
Current initiatives in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua aim to foster coexistence between humans and jaguars in shared landscapes.
Visitors can learn more about these efforts and enjoy heartwarming photos of the cubs on the zoo’s blog.
Additionally, the zoo offers exclusive video footage captured by closed-circuit cameras, showcasing Nayla’s tender care for her cubs in their private den.
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