Spotted at Brookfield Zoo Chicago: Rare Amur leopard cubs Sady and Lacy turn one

Brookfield Zoo Chicago is celebrating a major moment for Amur leopard conservation: cubs Sady and Lacy have turned 1 after being born to Mina, an 8-year-old first-time mother, on July 14, 2025. The zoo announced in a press release that the births added two rare animals to a species with fewer than 100 believed to remain in the wild, making each cub important to the future of the population.

Mark Wanner, associate vice president of animal care and conservation, stated last year in the zoo’s announcement, "This birth is a hopeful step for the future of Amur leopards. While the exact number of Amur leopards remaining in the wild is unknown, we do know the species has been in steady decline."

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Birthday enrichment and care

The zoo confirmed Sady and Lacy celebrated their first birthday last week with enrichment designed to encourage natural behavior and support their physical and mental health. The cubs are now strong climbers, the announcement noted, and spend time on trees and rocky ledges, where visitors often spot them near Desert’s Edge.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago added that the sisters can be told apart by their markings: Sady has a zigzag or "W" pattern on her nose bridge, while Lacy has a diagonal line of spots. The zoo also said Sady is more independent, while Lacy stays closer to Mina.

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Built for survival, threatened in the wild

According to the zoo, Amur leopards are native to the forests of eastern Russia and are adapted to cold climates. But the species still faces habitat loss, poaching and forest fires, threats that have pushed it to the edge of extinction.

Sasha, the cubs’ father, was born at Brookfield Zoo Chicago in 2020. Mina arrived from Rosamond Gifford Zoo in 2021 through the Species Survival Plan, a program run by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to help maintain healthy, genetically diverse populations of threatened animals.

Guests can now visit Sady and Lacy at Big Cats Walkway near the entrance to Desert’s Edge, where the zoo says the cubs are available for viewing. The zoo also encourages support through its Adopt an Animal program, which helps fund ongoing conservation work.