Zoo Melaka Welcomes Black Panther Cub & Invites Public To Guess His Name

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Zoo Melaka welcomed a male black panther cub on 22 July, marking another milestone in its wildlife conservation efforts

In a Facebook post, the zoo invited the public to guess names for its newest arrival.

The cub was born naturally to the zoo's resident black panthers — a six-year-old female named Minah Beting and an 11-year-old male named Tommy.

"He is growing healthily, getting stronger, and is very active under his mother's attentive care," the zoo said.

The post drew plenty of name guesses, with netizens also praising the zoo for its breeding and conservation efforts.

This is the second consecutive year Zoo Melaka has successfully bred a black panther cub

Minah Beting previously gave birth to her first cub, Jebat, in 2025. He is now more than a year old.

Zoo Melaka told SAYS that it currently houses a total of seven black panthers, including the newborn cub. Of these, five are male and two are female.

Black panthers, also known as black leopards, are an endangered species in Malaysia. They are fully protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716).

Zoo Melaka said the species faces threats from habitat loss due to land development, as well as the loss of food sources.

"Therefore, the birth of a black panther cub at Zoo Melaka represents an important achievement in ex situ conservation efforts, which involve conserving wildlife outside its natural habitat," the zoo said.

The newborn cub has yet to be given an official name or put on public display

However, visitors can still see his older brother, Jebat, who has become one of the zoo's attractions thanks to his engaging behaviour, and learn more about black panthers up close.