The first video of a snow leopard mother and her cubs was taken while in their den in the Tost Mountains of Mongolia.
The July 12, 2012 announcement came from Panthera, a wild cat conservation organization.
The snow leopard (species name Panthera uncia or Uncia uncia) is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central Asia. The snow leopard is on the endangered species list.
See the video of the youngcubs and their mother on the YouTube video shown on this page.
It is entitled "Video First: Snow Leopard Mother and Cubs in Den" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKXEIYjEN2M)
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The article states, "Because of the snow leopard's secretive and elusive nature, coupled with the extreme and treacherous landscape which they inhabit, dens have been extremely difficult to locate. This is a tremendous discovery and provides invaluable insight into the life story of the snow leopard."
And, Dr. Tom McCarthy, Executive Director of Panthera's Snow Leopard Program, is quoted within the press release: "We have spent years trying to determine when and where snow leopards give birth, the size of their litters, and the chances a cub has of surviving into adulthood."
"This is one of those exceptional moments in conservation where after years of effort, we get a rare glimpse into the life of an animal that needs our help in surviving in today's world. These data will help ensure a future for these incredible animals."
