Snow Leopard Who Gave Birth To 7 Cubs Put Down After Cancer Battle

Himani, the snow leopard that gained national attention for giving birth to seven cubs at Cape May County Park and Zoo in New Jersey, died at 17 years old on Sunday.

A report by CBS Philly said the big cat was peacefully euthanized following her battle with cancer. Himani shot to fame when she reared four litters of cubs at a time when the breeding rate of the species was very low.

A statement by Cape May County Zoo officials read, "Her success in rearing strong healthy cubs contributed valuable bloodlines to the Species Survival Plan population. The cubs born at our Zoo introduced our guests to the rare opportunity to see cubs of one of the most endangered species of animals on the planet (sic)."

Himani, born in June 2003, was brought to Cape May County Zoo in 2009 from the Knoxville Zoo in Tennessee. "Himani was an incredible mother, and an important member of our Zoo family, she will certainly be missed by the staff and visitors. We feel fortunate that she was here with us during the past 12 years. Her contributions to the conservation of her species and to the future of the Cape May County Zoo are immeasurable," said Dr. Alex Ernst, Associate Veterinarian at the Zoo.

Officials say the birth of cubs put the zoo in the national spotlight. "She was a superstar and a huge draw for visitors who made a visit to the Snow Leopard habitat one of their top attractions," said County Commissioner E. Marie Hayes, liaison to the Cape May County Parks and Zoo.

It was in 2010 that Himani first gave birth to two male cubs, named Sabu and Kaba, the first snow leopards ever born at Cape May County Parks and Zoo. The birth gained nationwide attention as healthy snow leopard litters were rare. Fewer than a dozen cubs had been born and survived in the country the previous year.

Over the next three years, Himani and her mate, Vijay, produced three more litters, making it a total of seven lively cubs. The multiple births made them a successful breeding pair and brought so much fame to the zoo.

According to the zoo officials, Himani’s cubs were moved to zoos across the country, carrying “her legacy and genetics to raise cubs of their own.”