Zoo playing its part in repopulating the endangered animals

MOSELY — The snow leopards at the Metro Richmond Zoo are now proud parents.

Two snow leopard cubs, one male and one female, were born to the zoo’s snow leopards Nitro and Elsa on May 24. The cubs are the first snow leopard cubs born at the zoo in Chesterfield, according to zoo director Jim Andelin.

“The cubs are currently off exhibit in their private den with mom while they are developing their initial motor skills and strength,” zoo director Jim Andelin said. “Our plan is to let the cubs out on exhibit once they are strong enough to follow mom outside, probably in three or four weeks from now. In the wild, snow leopard cubs don’t venture out of their den until they are two to four months old.”

Though the zoo considered setting up something similar to the popular “Cheetah Cam” for the baby snow leopards, this was decided against as it would place undue stress on both the newborn cubs and the parents. Andelin has said that the zoo is considering holding a contest or taking public suggestions for names for the still unnamed cubs. The main concern for the moment though, is making long term plans for the cubs, in Richmond and beyond.

“They’ll probably be here in the zoo for at least one to two years, though after that they may go to other zoos, for genetic breeding,” said Andelin. “There have been other zoos that have had snow leopard births, they’re not a difficult cat to breed, like the cheetah is, the big issue is that there’s just so few of them left, even in captivity.”

Native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia, the snow leopard has been listed as endangered on the Red List of Threatened Species since 1972. Though the species’ exact numbers have not been determined, an estimated between 3,920 and 6,390 wild snow leopards are left in the wild, with an additional 600-700 in zoos around the world, including approximately 250 in American zoos alone.

Make that 252, thanks to the new arrivals at the Metro Richmond Zoo.

According to Snow Leopard Conservancy, the three primary threats to the species survival in the wild are habitat destruction, human population growth pushing them from their traditional hunting grounds, and illegal hunting, with the bone, skin, and organs of the snow leopard highly sought after for traditional Asian medicine, often selling for thousands of dollars on the black market.

This in part, is why breeding programs like those at the Metro Richmond Zoo are so important according to Andelin.

“With any critically endangered animal like the snow leopard, as the number in the wild decreases, maintaining a viable population in captivity is important, but just as critical is raising awareness,” said Andelin. “All of these visitors come in to look at these cute, baby snow leopards, and they gain an appreciation for these magnificent animals, want to learn more about them, and want to do more to conserve them in the wild, and that’s what every zoo wants from people who come to see these animals.”

• Sean CW Korsgaard may be reached at skorsgaard@progress-index.com, or at 804-722-5172.