Zoo reveals rare leopards

PERSIAN leopard triplets born in June have been introduced to the public at Budapest Zoo.

The cubs — a male and two females — were born at the zoo on June 19 and are doing well, said zoo spokesman Zoltan Hanga.

The Persian leopard is the largest of the leopard subspecies and is native to western Asian countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Armenia.

The leopard is endangered, however, with fewer than 2,000 thought to be living in the wild. An additional 74 leopards live in zoos.

The cubs born in Hungary — sisters Bella and Bara and brother Bahar — are part of a breeding program of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria.

Their parents — father Nadir and mother Cezi — arrived at Budapest Zoo in mid-2003. Their first offspring, Asszir, was born June 6, 2005, and is now at Jerusalem Zoo.

The three cubs will stay in Budapest for about a year, when they will be transferred to other zoos.