OPENING 25 MARCH 2024
We’re so excited to be welcoming a pair of snow leopards, Nubra and Yashin, to their new home with us here at Chester Zoo for the very first time! Come and see these magnificent animals for yourself.
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MEET OUR NEW ARRIVALS…
These two majestic cats join us as part of the vital global conservation breeding programme, focused on protecting the species from extinction for future generations.
NUBRA
The female snow leopard has come all the way from Krefeld Zoo, Germany.
YASHIN
The male snow leopard has come to us from the Highlands Wildlife Park in Scotland.
Numerous teams of experts across the zoo and externally have worked together meticulously to create a brand-new habitat perfectly suited to a snow leopard’s every need. From locally-sourced rocky outcrops mimicking natural mountainous terrain (including over 600 tonnes of scree and rock kindly donated to us by Wienerberger UK), to temperature-controlled caves that will ensure the cats are kept comfortably cool during the summer months.
We’ve also considered the little things when designing this build. Both our on-show and off-show areas are able to keep the cats separated when needed, with the main outdoor area being divided by a walkway which the keepers will have access to. There are large indoor viewing windows and spacious outdoor viewing platforms, meaning you’ll have every opportunity to spot our snow leopards roaming around their carefully crafted habitat.
Often referred to as ‘the ghost of the mountains’, snow leopards are very well camouflaged. Their thick spotted fur makes them very hard to see amongst their rocky, snowy setting in the wild.
Similarly, they’re also highly adapted to living in the cold weather with their long, fluffy tails keeping them warm at night, and big fluffy paws that act as snowshoes. Even their small ears help to protect them from heat loss!
A snow leopard’s main call is not a roar like a tiger or lion, it’s actually a puffing sound called a “chuff“. Females do have a very loud yowl, but they’ll only yowl to attract males when they are ready to breed.
Snow leopards look after their young for 21 months, this is longer than any other big cat. This may be due to their harsh environment, so cubs need more time to become independent. The cubs are ready to follow their mother hunting when they’re 3 months old.
ADOPT A SNOW LEOPARD
Whether it’s for you or as a gift with a difference, your snow leopard adoption will make a VITAL contribution to supporting these majestic big cats! You’ll also receive a welcome pack with a certificate, car sticker, animal photo and your name on the animal plaque at the zoo.
BECOME A MEMBER
Sign up to become a member and be one of the first to see these new arrivals in our brand new Himalayan-inspired habitat. PLUS, unlimited free entry to the zoo for a whole year!
FOOTPRINTS FOR THE FUTURE
Become a part of our snow leopard Legacy by purchasing a beautifully crafted ‘paw print’ and place yours or your loved one’s name, in the heart of our new snow leopard habitat.
SNOW LEOPARDS ARE AT A HIGH RISK OF BECOMING EXTINCT IN THE WILD
With their numbers continuing to decrease, wildlife experts from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimate that fewer than 3,500 now remain in the wild.
Sadly, their biggest threat comes as a result of human interference; with new developments, hunting, mining and even climate change affecting their habitat and putting their future at risk.
With these solitary animals spread across 772,204 miles of their mountainous habitat, they can be really difficult for conservationists to study, meaning they have to rely on scat samples and remote cameras to collect vital information.
This is where our upcoming partnership with the Snow Leopard Trust (SLT) comes in. Throughout 2024 Chester Zoo will be working on their ‘Equal One’ initiative, collaborating with local communities on different project sites across Central Asia in the Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan region.
Photograph credited to Snow Leopard Trust / SLF-Kyrgyzstan.