Endangered clouded leopard cub to make public debut Saturday at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Tacoma, Wash. –  An endangered clouded leopard cub will make his public debut at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium Saturday morning.

The now 4-pound cub weighed just about half a pound when he was born May 1. 

He’s been getting round-the-clock care and feedings since his birth to mother Chai Li (pronounced Chai-lye) and her mate Nah Fun (pronounced Nah-foon).

The cub, whom zookeepers named Tien (pronounced TEA-N), will be on exhibit for feedings at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. daily in the zoo’s Cub Den.

His name was inspired by the sound of a Thai word for strong, stable and steady, zookeepers said. It is not a direct translation.

When his feeding and play period is over, Sumatran tiger cub Kali will get her time in the Cub Den. Feedings and keeper interaction with her are at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily.

Kali, born April 17 to mother Jaya and father Malosi, now weighs about 16 pounds.

Both cubs are members of endangered species and were born as part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan®

“These cats are very rare in zoos and in the wild,”  Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium general curator Karen Goodrowe Beck said shortly after their births.

“We hope visitors to our zoo will connect with them and be inspired to take action to help save their species in the wild.”

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium staff members are vital partners in the global effort to study clouded leopards and tigers and educate the public about the habitat destruction that threatens their existence.

Tacoma zookeepers founded the nonprofit Clouded Leopard Project 13 years ago (www.cloudedleopard.org), and the group works closely with the zoo and The Zoo Society in fundraising efforts for conservation projects. Zoo staff members also conduct and support clouded leopard conservation work in Thailand and elsewhere in Southeast Asia.