Two rare snow leopard cubs [not pictured] have just made their public debut at the Bronx Zoo, and is something of a celebration given that these cats are among the most endangered in the world, according to a recent press release. (Photo : Reuters)

Two rare snow leopard cubs have just made their public debut at the Bronx Zoo, and is something of a celebration given that these cats are among the most endangered in the world, according to a recent press release.

The twin boys were born May 6 to a pair of first-time parents, and are now on display in the zoo's outdoor Himalayan Highlands exhibit, which is run by the Wildlife Conservation Society.

They seem to be in good health, playfully scampering, leaping and pawing at each other alongside their mom in the exhibit.

Their parents were bred as part of the Species Survival Plan, a nationwide program aimed at boosting the genetic diversity and viability of animal populations in zoos.

In 1903, the Bronx Zoo became the first zoo in the United States to feature the big cats, and since then has seen over 70 snow leopard births - more than any other zoo in North America.

Native to the mountains of Central Asia, snow leopards are considered highly endangered, with less than 7,500 left in the wild. They can also be found in parts of China, Mongolia, Russia, India and Bhutan.

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is working in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and western China to combat deforestation and poaching of the adorable big cats.

In Afghanistan, for instance, community rangers have now taken over a thousand camera trap photos of snow leopards, and five snow leopards have been fitted with satellite collars to better understand their behavior and movements. In addition, this past April Afghanistan announced the creation of its second protected area, Wakhan National Park, which preserves more than 70 percent of the country's snow leopard habitat.

According to National Geographic, these rare, beautiful leopards are tremendous leapers, able to jump as far as 50 feet (15 meters). They use their long tails for balance and as blankets to cover sensitive body parts against the severe mountain chill. Weighing up to 120 pounds, these furry mammals can kill animals three times their weight, like the blue sheep (bharal) of Tibet and the mountain ibex.

Sadly, this species has been in decline mostly due to poaching for their fur as well as body parts, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine.

[Credit: WCSMedia]