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Snow Leopards' Journey to the Welsh Mountain Zoo

A pair of magnificent Snow Leopards, the first ever to take up residence in Wales, are the latest exciting arrivals at the Welsh Mountain Zoo.

Female, Otilia, born in Tallin Zoo in Estonia on 29 April 2005 and male, Szechuan, born in Szeged Zoo in Hungary on 2 May 2005, are settling into their new home in Colwyn Bay, after travelling from the furthest corners of Europe.

 
IMAGE2Recently featured on BBC TV series 'Planet Earth', the beautiful and charismatic Snow Leopards from the mountains of South Asia are recognised by the International Union for Conservation and Nature (IUCN) as endangered species. There are an estimated 3,500-7,000 remaining in the wild and between 600 and 700 in captive breeding programmes. Otilia and Szechuan have been selected as a potential breeding pair for the Welsh Mountain Zoo as part of a carefully controlled conservation programme.
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Weighing between35 and 55kg (77-121 lb) and measuring over 60cm (24in) in height, the leopards will live on a diet of chicken, beef and bones for enrichment.

Zoological Director, Nick Jackson said "The arrival of these captivating leopards is a further example of the growing importance of the Welsh Mountain Zoo within World-Wide breeding programmes. Zoo visitors can admire the leopards in Colwyn Bay knowing that they are contributing to protecting the species from extinction in the wild."

 

Date: 23 May 2006