Rare snow leopard cub with incurable bone condition put to sleep

One of two rare snow leopard cubs born at the Highland Wildlife Park earlier this year has been euthanised after it was found to have an incurable bone condition.

The twins were born in June to first-time mum Pari and her mate Koshi, and were the first litter at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) site at Kincraig in four years.

Keepers had spotted the male cub, Indra, was limping and extensive medical examinations detected the condition.

The park said it would have had a "significant impact" on his quality of life.

His sister, Tama, is expected to remain with her mother for up to two years before being moved to another enclosure.

RZSS said: "After careful consideration, the difficult decision was made to put Indra to sleep.

"Indra was born alongside his twin sister Tama at Highland Wildlife Park in June. He was a joy to watch grow and will be greatly missed by us all."

Snow leopards are native to the high, rugged mountain ranges of Central and South Asia, but they face threats from habitat loss, poaching and a declining availability of prey.