Basel Zoo shows off rare snow leopard triplets (AP)

GENEVA ? Rare snow leopard triplets have made their first public appearance at Basel Zoo in northwestern Switzerland.

The zoo is showing off the eight-week-old cubs Wednesday alongside their mother, Mayhan and father, Pator.

The pair were matched mid-January through a preservation program run by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria.

Snow leopards are an endangered species and only 4,000-6,000 are believed to still live in the wild.

They are mainly found in the mountains of Central Asia and the Himalayas.

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Online:

Basel Zoo snow leopards: http://bit.ly/ljUpa9

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110615/ap_on_re_eu/eu_switzerland_snow_leopards

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