Secretive snow leopards set for Twycross Zoo debut
The UK’s Twycross Zoo is celebrating the arrival of a pair of snow leopards intended as the star attraction of its new Himalayan-themed enclosure.
The rare animals have been in quarantine since their arrival in March. One arrived from Norden’s Ark in Sweden while the other comes from Tama Zoo in Tokyo. Both arrived at Twycross Zoo as part of an international breeding programme.
The leopards will be introduced to each other soon, once they have settled in from their long journey. In the meantime they will become accustom to each other by scenting, sniffing and walking around the enclosure. It is hoped that the pair will soon mate.
The snow leopard is a moderately large cat and native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. They live between 3,000 and 5,500 metres (9,800 and 18,000 ft) above sea level in the rocky mountain ranges of Central Asia.
However, their secretive nature means that their exact numbers are not known, although it has been estimated that between 3,500 and 7,000 snow leopards exist in the wild.