Dudley Zoo snow leopard cub Nidara killed by infection

Initial tests on Nidara had proved inconclusive

An 11-week-old snow leopard cub that died at Dudley Zoo was killed by an intestinal infection.

The zoo said Nidara, the first snow leopard to be born there in 12 years, then developed septicaemia which led to her death on 19 July.

Vet Peter Stewart said it was a common infection for young animals and had a "high mortality rate".

The cub's rapid deterioration was filmed on CCTV and showed her mother trying to nudge her back to life.

Initial tests on Nidara, which means "fearless" in Hindi, had proved inconclusive.

Nidara was known as Cub X until earlier this month, as zoo keepers were unsure of her sex.

They avoided human contact until that point to minimise the risk of infection to the cub.