L.A. Zoo introduces snow leopard cubs

Native to remote mountains in Asia, snow leopards are extremely rare. It is estimated that only 5,000 to 7,000 snow leopards remain in the wild, according to the Los Angeles Zoo website.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

The pair of snow leopard cubs were born at the Los Angeles Zoo on May 26.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Thanks to their outstanding night vision, ability to leap 45 feet in the air and capability of killing prey up to two to three times their weight, snow leopards are very adept hunters, says the Los Angeles Zoo website.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

The snow leopard cubs, introduced to the public Thursday, are a male and a female.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

The snow leopard cubs check out their public habitat at the Los Angeles Zoo.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Living at the top of the food chain, the snow leopard is an an indicator species for the fragile mountain ecosystems of Asia, according to the Los Angeles Zoo website. This means that the ecosystem is considered healthy if it can support a large predator like the snow leopard.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)