Tulsa Zoo Puts New Jaguar Cubs On Exhibit This Weekend

The Tulsa Zoo announced the birth of two male jaguar cubs – the first jaguars that have ever been born at the zoo.

They will be on exhibit for the first time this weekend in the Tropical American Rainforest exhibit. They were born April 22, 2012, to the Zoo's 8-year-old female jaguar Ixchel.

The cubs have very different personalities, according to a Zoo veterinarian.

"One of the cubs is very curious and is the first to investigate a new person or object," said Dr. Jennifer Kilburn, associate veterinarian at the Tulsa Zoo.

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"The other cub is very shy and tends to stay back until the excitement calms down. When the cubs are relaxed they are very playful with each other and especially with mom. Ixchel has been a fantastic mom, always aware of where the cubs are and keeps them in line!"

Jaguars are classified as "near threatened" due to their declining numbers. The Zoo plans to keep the cubs for two years before moving them to another Zoo to help maintain healthy jaguar populations.

The cubs may be a little shy this weekend, Zoo officials warned in a news release Tuesday. They may take a while to get used to humans and will have access to their dens from the Rainforest Exhibit.