Tracking a snow leopard family tree
Across the remote peaks of 12 countries – including Kazakhstan, China, and Nepal – snow leopards live far apart.
That distance helps protect their genetic health. In human care, we mimic that balance by understanding their family trees.
Here at Chester Zoo, three snow leopards – Yashin, Nubra, and Bheri – are part of the global effort to safeguard the species.
A carefully planned lineage
Yashin was born at Highland Wildlife Park in Scotland on 28 May 2022. Nubra followed just weeks later, born on 11 July 2022 at Krefeld Zoo in Germany.
Both were born into the European breeding programme for snow leopards, known as the EAZA Ex-situ Programme (EEP).
Their pairing was not a coincidence. It was guided by genetic data shared between zoos through a global system called ZIMS – the Zoological Information Management System. This allows conservationists to track ancestry, health, and genetics across thousands of animals and zoos.
The aim is to maintain a genetically diverse population that supports the long-term survival of snow leopards.
Introducing Bheri
On 10 June 2025, Nubra gave birth to a single cub at Chester Zoo. Named Bheri – after a river in Nepal that flows through snow leopard habitat.
Her birth brings together two valuable genetic lines and strengthens the population as a whole. That diversity is essential. It helps safeguard the health and resilience of snow leopards in human care and ensures future breeding decisions are based on strong foundations. Each birth like Bheri’s is part of a wider plan – not just for the individual, but for the species as a whole.
Introducing Bheri
On 10 June 2025, Nubra gave birth to a single cub at Chester Zoo. Named Bheri – after a river in Nepal that flows through snow leopard habitat.
Her birth brings together two valuable genetic lines and strengthens the population as a whole. That diversity is essential. It helps safeguard the health and resilience of snow leopards in human care and ensures future breeding decisions are based on strong foundations. Each birth like Bheri’s is part of a wider plan – not just for the individual, but for the species as a whole.
Why the family tree matters
Every snow leopard in the breeding programme is connected by a shared dataset that tracks ancestry across generations.
Bheri’s family tree is one example of how that system works. Her father, Yashin, is the offspring of snow leopards Koshi and Animesh, born at Highland Wildlife Park. Her mother, Nubra, was born at Krefeld Zoo to snow leopards Patan and Dari.
These four adults – living in different zoos, in different countries – were all carefully matched as part of the EEP.
Tracking these connections allows conservationists to avoid inbreeding, maintain genetic diversity, and make informed decisions for future pairings. It's not just record keeping - it's a tool for long-term species protection.
Supporting the bigger picture
The snow leopards at Chester Zoo are just one part of a wider conservation plan. Every birth, every pairing, and every data point feeds into a global effort to protect the species for the future.
This work takes time, collaboration, and long-term commitment – and it depends on support from people who care. From developing breeding recommendations to funding field conservation, the role of accredited zoos is critical.
And so is the role of those who visit them. By supporting Chester Zoo, you’re part of that bigger picture. You’re helping protect snow leopards not just here in the UK, but across their range. You’re helping conservation teams track bloodlines, strengthen populations, and plan for a future where snow leopards remain a living part of the natural world.
