1. What’s in a name? Snow Leopards get their name from the colour of their fur! The population of these wonderful cats is sparsely distributed over 12 countries in Central Asia.
2. These cats are classified as vulnerable by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) and there are thought to be 3,500 -7,000 in the world.
3. Only weighing approximately 30 kilograms, they are known as ghost cats or ghost of the mountains as they are elusive and well hidden!
4. They are well-suited to steep rocky habitats, so their new Wellington Zoo habitat is perfect for them. Their habitat is a $6 million development, designed especially for Snow Leopards. Construction took about 18 months, with Asha and Manju moving into their new enclosure in April 2023.