Zoya, the firstborn and larger of the two snow leopard cubs, was born with a noticeable issue affecting her front legs. She struggled with her gait and had difficulty bearing weight on her front paws, resorting to “army crawling” on her elbows to move around.

Our incredible veterinary team carefully assessed Zoya to ensure she had no broken bones or other underlying physical issues. With guidance from a specialized rehabilitation veterinarian, her #GuardiansOfWild care team performed twice-daily physiotherapy exercises to improve the flexibility of her front paws and joints.

Over three visits from the rehabilitation expert, the exercises were gradually expanded as Zoya’s condition improved and she began bearing more weight on her paws. These new exercises included encouraging her to shift more weight onto her front legs, assisting her with walking by supporting her weight, and encouraging natural behaviours like scratching and climbing to strengthen her front leg muscles.

Thanks to the dedication and hard work of the team, Zoya has made remarkable progress, and her mobility has improved significantly. The issues that once affected her are no longer visible, and her stance and gait now match those of her twin sister, Minu.

She remains active and playful, engaging with her enrichment and interacting more confidently with Minu. Now that she has access to her habitat, Zoya can be seen jumping, climbing, and running alongside Minu with great agility.