( CNN ) -- A trio of rare Snow Leopard cubs have made their public debut at a zoo in Switzerland this week . The as yet unnamed triplets , born in Basel Zoo eight weeks ago , were displayed on Wednesday with their proud parents . Mayhan , the cubs ' mother , was paired with father Pator in 2009 as part of a Europe-wide zoo breeding program . The pregnancy was confirmed in January this year . The zoo said the cubs , who are still being suckled by their mother , are expected to remain in Basel for their first three years but will later travel as ambassadors for their endangered species . Snow leopards are usually found in the Himalayan ranges of central Asia at altitudes of up to 6,000 meters . The species has been pushed to the brink of extinction by farmers protecting their livestock and hunters who sell its fur and body parts , which are prized by some traditional Chinese medicine practitioners . There are now an estimated 3,500 to 7,000 snow leopards left living in the wild , according to the Snow Leopard Trust .
Rare snow leopard triplets born eight weeks ago . Parents Mayhan and Pator were brought together in 2009 . Score: 6