There is a new face at Zoo Melaka, and he is still waiting for a name.
A healthy cub born in July
A male black panther cub was born naturally at Zoo Melaka in Ayer Keroh on 22 July. He weighed 1.09kg at birth and was nursing well and active from the start.
His parents are Minah Beting, a six-year-old female, and Tommy, an 11-year-old male. It is the second litter for Minah Beting, whose first cub, Jebat, is now more than a year old.
At two months and a week old, the cub is spending more time out in the open under his mother’s watch.
Why he looks so dark
Black panthers are not a separate species. They are leopards with melanism, a genetic trait that gives them a solid dark coat. Zoo Melaka’s keepers say the cub is a Panthera pardus, the same species as any spotted leopard.
Help name him
The zoo is inviting the public to suggest names for the cub. Ideas already flowing in include Taming Sari, Kasturi, Bintang, Arang and Wakanda.
Follow Zoo Melaka’s official social media pages for the submission details.
Planning your visit
Zoo Melaka is Malaysia’s second-largest zoo, with more than 1,200 animals across 200-plus species. It pairs well with a family day in Ayer Keroh, and our recent story on the zoo’s Malayan tiger breeding programme covers another reason to visit. Our Family Weekend itinerary shows how to fit it into two days.
