Rare leopard cub on view at St. Louis Zoo nursery

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The public has a chance to see a rare Amur (ah-MUHR') leopard cub at the St. Louis Zoo.

The cub is named Sofiya (soh-FEE'-uh) and was born on May 10. Another male cub was stillborn. Zoo staff began hand-rearing Sofiya when the mother leopard did not show the ability to properly care for the cub.

Zoo officials say it is not uncommon for a leopard mother to have problems raising her first litter.

Sofiya is being bottle fed by zookeepers until she's about 3 months old. She can be seen daily in the nursery at the Children's Zoo.

This type of leopard is considered one of the most endangered cats in the world. It is believed that fewer than 40 remain in the wild, living in eastern Russia.