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| Fewer than 2,000 Persian leopards are thought to exist in the wild. |
On Aug. 14, the Budapest Zoo introduced animal lovers to its newest attraction: a set of rare Persian leopard triplets, The Associated Press reports. Sisters Bella and Bara, and brother Bahar, are the offspring of father Nadir and mother Cezi, and are the result of a breeding program of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria. Zoo spokesman Zoltan Hanga said the cubs are doing well.
Seventy-four Persian leopards live in zoos throughout the world, with fewer than 2,000 thought to survive in the wild in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Armenia.
Nadir and Cezi are not first-time parents. Their first offspring, Asszir, was born in June 2005 and now lives at the Jerusalem Zoo.
To commemorate the leopard triplets, the Budapest Zoo will allow human twins, triplets or siblings from other multiple births admission to the zoo free of charge, Hanga said. This promotion will run until Dec. 31, 2007.