WHAT a difference a year makes!

Female Margay Tigra celebrated her first birthday on June 15 at the Welsh Mountain Zoo in Colwyn Bay. 

Tigra, who has mum and dad Sonora and Maverick, will soon be moving to a new home. 

Peter Litherland, Animal Collection Manager at the Welsh Mountain Zoo, said: "Tigra is now just a year old and has been recently separated from her parents. She is now almost fully grown and we are in the early stages of making arrangements for her to move out of the collection to a new home. 

"The move will pair Tigra with male from the European breeding programme, with the hope she will play an important role in growing the captive population of this near threatened species."

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Originating from South America, the Margay is considered one of the most mysterious members of the cat family.

Similar in size to a small domestic cat, the Margay’s coat is brown and yellow with dark spots and stripes throughout.

The animals are called as a "fully protected species". Following a period of hunting and severe exploitation, the IUCN list the species as ‘near threatened’.