A tiny 4lb jaguar cub made its debut at the San Diego Zoo this weekend.
The two-week-old cat was filmed as it wobbled around its hay-lined den and gave a big yawn after a fun-filled day of adventure.
Its mother, seven-year-old Nindiri, stayed close by and gently carried the newborn between her teeth.
The sex of the cub is not yet known and it will be determined next week during an examination.
Open wide! A tiny 4lb jaguar cub made its debut at the San Diego Zoo this weekend
Nindiri gave birth to the single cub on March 12 at around 8:30pm. She has two other youngsters from a previous litter.
Her latest delivery weighed in at around 2bls and has since doubled in weight.
To date the cub has been spending most of its time in an off exhibit area with its mother.
Zoo keepers waited until its eyes had opened and it was steadier on its paws before introducing it to the public.
Jaguar cub makes fiercely cute debut at San Diego Zoo
Posing for the camera: The two-week-old cat was filmed as it wobbled around its hay-lined den and gave a big yawn after a fun-filled day of adventure
Unbreakable bond: Its mother, seven-year-old Nindiri, stayed close by and gently carried the newborn between her teeth
It made its debut Saturday during the San Deigo Zoo ‘Play Days,’ in which staff answer questions from visitors and share stories of taking care of the animals.
Hay and a rock were added to cub’s enclosure for it to play around and investigate.
San Diego Zoo senior keeper Chad Summers said the cub is doing ‘very, very well.’
He added: ‘First step is acclimating to the new bedroom… getting it used to the new sounds, the sounds of people, the public, the new smells.
Boy or girl? The sex of the cub is not yet known and will be determined next week during an examination
On show: To date the cub has been spending most of its time in an off exhibit area with its mother
Growing fast: Zoo keepers waited until its eyes had opened and it was steadier on its paws before introducing it to the public
‘Mom and baby are doing fantastic out in the cave.’
The jaguar is an endangered species, with hunters killing them for their attractive fur.
Some ranchers also kill them because the cats sometimes prey upon their livestock.
It’s estimated that there are about 10,000 jaguars left in the wild, but their numbers are decreasing at a quick pace.
‘Because it’s a critically endangered animal, every birth is very, very important to us,’ Summers added, commenting on San Diego Zoo’s newest arrival.
