Clouded leopard triplets at Point Defiance Zoo get names

Now that they’re a month old, the clouded leopard triplets at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium have names.

The girl is Saffron; her brothers are Masala and Coriander (Cori).

Zookeepers chose names inspired by Asian herbs and spices and allowed the public to vote. Other name options included Cassia, Basil and Chili.

The cubs were born March 30 to first-time parents Sang Dao and Tien. They each weigh about 3 pounds now and all have blue eyes.

Saffron is a “spitfire who holds her own with her brothers,” said staff biologist Andy Goldfarb. “Masala is more mellow and focused. Cori is high-energy and the first to start the wrestling and playtime.”

Visitors can see the triplets inside the Cub Den, where zookeepers are hand-rearing the cats around-the-clock.

“Because clouded leopards are so endangered, every cub is precious,” general curator Karen Goodrowe Beck said. “Hand-raising them ensures that they stay healthy and thrive in a zoo environment.”

Of the 93 clouded leopards in North American zoos, 12 live in Tacoma.

This story was originally published May 6, 2016 at 5:37 PM with the headline "Clouded leopard triplets at Point Defiance Zoo get names."