HCA Healthcare
March 29, 2019

SOURCE: Nashville Tennessean

Niran, the Nashville Zoo's first clouded leopard to be born from artificial insemination, gave birth Sunday to two cubs.

The cubs weigh about 187 and 192 grams and are the zoo's seventh and eighth clouded leopards. A total of 34 cubs have been born there since 2009.

Niran became pregnant through natural reproduction, zoo officials said last week.

Niran, the Nashville Zoo's first clouded leopard to be born from artificial insemination, gave birth to her first cubs Sunday, March 24, 2019. (Photo: Nashville Zoo)

“The two cubs are doing fantastic,” said Dr. Heather Robertson, Nashville Zoo director of veterinary services, in a release. “We’ve really made history with Niran, who was born from AI, giving birth to two healthy cubs successfully with no complications.”

The zoo plans to hand raise the cubs due to the common nature of the species to neglect their offspring, zoo officials said.

Niran, the Nashville Zoo's first clouded leopard to be born from artificial insemination, gave birth to these cubs, her first, Sunday, March 24, 2019. (Photo: Nashville Zoo)

The cubs will stay at the zoo with plans to eventually introduce them to a potential mate at another zoo. Niran and Ron, the father, can be found behind the scenes, but their offspring will stay in the neonatal animal care room at the HCA Healthcare Veterinary Center.