Amur leopard cubs at zoo in Illinois ‘growing quickly’

BROOKFIELD, Ill. (CBS, KYMA) - Two three-month-old Amur leopard cubs are "growing quickly" at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, bonding behind the scenes with their mother ahead of being introduced to the public.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago said the cubs were confirmed to be girls in a recent veterinary team checkup and have been adjusting to "new sights, sounds and smells in preparation for their much-anticipated debut."

The cubs are described as "playful" by Racquel Ardisana, associate director of carnivore care and conservation at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, who said in a press release: "It's been such a joy watching the sisters grow braver each day, tumbling through their behind-the-scenes habitat, testing some boundaries with mom Mina and completely stealing our hearts in the process."

The zoo said it looked forward to introducing the leopard cubs to zoo guests "later this fall."