Wellington Zoo is putting on the final touches for the arrival of New Zealand’s first snow leopards.
Two female cats – named Asha and Manju – will touch down from Melbourne at the beginning of April and will be on view from April 12 once they have undergone mandatory quarantine.
Planning for their arrival has been in the works since 2020. However, snow leopards have been on the zoo’s wishlist since at least 2011.
He has Covid-19
Snow leopards are found in the mountain ranges and high country of Central Asia.
Alongside poaching and habitat clearance, they are susceptible to climate change affecting the cold high altitude conditions they thrive in.
A conservationist the organisation, Mountain Spirit, is coming to Wellington to help with settling the animals.
Jerram said their presence provided an educational opportunity to talk about how climate change was affecting animals like snow leopards.
“Climate change could potentially make them climate refugees.
The zoo will have a focus on snow leopard themed activities on April 15-16, the weekend after the official opening.
