I’m thinking Wellington Zoo’s the likely destination for these females - with their exhibit due to open next year. Snow leopards will be a great addition to Wellington and the perfect compliment to the Asian species they already hold.
Australasian Snow Leopard Population
- Thread starter Patrick Keegan
- Start date
-
- Tags
- population snow leopard
I’m thinking Wellington Zoo’s the likely destination for these females - with their exhibit due to open next year. Snow leopards will be a great addition to Wellington and the perfect compliment to the Asian species they already hold.
And hopefully a male partner from the international program.
Unfortunately Wellington Zoo will be a non breeding facility. They initially announced they’d be receiving an older, non breeding pair from the USA - but that was before Melbourne Zoo successfully bred this litter.
Melbourne’s cubs clearly aren’t going immediately into breeding situations (at least not in our region), so it seems likely to me that they’ll spend a few years at Melbourne - with one or both eventually being sent to other zoos for breeding.
I do think there is a realistic chance the EEP/EAZA will take kindly to expanding the Snow leopard program down under.
You're 100% correct wellington zoo has just announced asha and manju will be moving to Wellington zoo next year from their social media
We are excited to announce our community fundraising campaign so you can help us build a new home for Snow Leopards at Wellington Zoo!
We’re building a new Snow Leopard habitat at the Zoo which, will be home to the only pair of Snow Leopards in New Zealand – Asha and Manju. Asha and Manju are one and a half year-old sisters who currently live at Melbourne Zoo.
Asha and Manju are amazing ambassadors for their species and we can’t wait for you to meet them and learn all about this amazing species!
To kick off our community fundraising campaign, we will be running a pop-up ice cream stall on the Wellington waterfront (behind Te Papa, near the Solace in the Wind statue) this Saturday from 10am with our partner, Tip Top Ice Cream with all proceeds going to the Snow Leopard project!
If you would like to learn more, please head on over to our website - shorturl.at/tvGH9
It’ll be great to see Snow leopards in New Zealand for the first time since 1995!
Here’s the records of Wellington Zoo’s previous Snow leopards:
Hima (M)
Born at Cincinnati Zoo 29/08/1978
Sent to San Diego Zoo 06/12/1978
Arrived at Wellington Zoo 15/07/1986
Died at Wellington Zoo 05/08/1994
Darth (F)
Born at Rochester Zoo 25/05/1980
Sent to San Antonio Zoo 20/10/1980
Sent to Columbus Zoo 17/06/1982
Arrived at Wellington Zoo 08/07/1986
Died at Wellington Zoo 12/11/1995
Hima and Darth produced one litter at Wellington Zoo:
Lani (F)
Born at Wellington Zoo 04/11/1988
Died at Wellington Zoo 16/08/1989
Sima (F)
Born at Wellington Zoo 04/11/1988
Sent to Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens 14/07/1990 (Died 2006)
Adelaide zoo plans to house snow leopards:
As mentioned by @Swanson02 on the adelaide zoo thread and @Zoofan15 on the leopard thread Adelaide zoo now intends to house snow leopards rather than sri lanka leopards as the favoured species and plan to house them in an extension of the 'south-east china' precinct this will likely be within a few years and depending on whether or not Billabong and/or mogo intend to phase out snow leopards when/if their eldery animals die by then this will bring the number of holders within the region to either 4, 5 or 6 (once again depending on Billabong and mogo's choice and their current animals longevity)
As mentioned by @Swanson02 on the adelaide zoo thread and @Zoofan15 on the leopard thread Adelaide zoo now intends to house snow leopards rather than sri lanka leopards as the favoured species and plan to house them in an extension of the 'south-east china' precinct this will likely be within a few years and depending on whether or not Billabong and/or mogo intend to phase out snow leopards when/if their eldery animals die by then this will bring the number of holders within the region to either 4, 5 or 6 (once again depending on Billabong and mogo's choice and their current animals longevity)
Billabong consider their Snow leopards an asset given they're their biggest draw card. I anticipate they'd be keen to receive more when their older cats pass on and there would be an opportunity to supply them with Melbourne bred cubs. It's a win-win for both zoos. Though Sri Lankan leopards are easier to keep (especially in their climate), Billabong already have the infrastructure in place to house them.
Billabong were very keen to get Taronga's surplus animals a few years back so there's a high chance they'll still be keen to keep them. As you said, Snow Leopards are one of their biggest attractions.
Mogo, on the other hand, may be moving away from housing Snow Leopards in the future. They attempted to breed over a decade ago but have now allowed their individuals to grow old.
Melbourne will be left with a single male cub soon, who may be sent to another zoo within the region (such as Adelaide) to form a new breeding pair in the region with a female from overseas.
He's already gone to Tasmania Zoo. They're a new holder. It's possible they'll import a female but I assume they're just keep a single male for now.
That's right! It's the females that are still at Melbourne awaiting transport to Wellington. My brain mixed them up.
Hopefully Adelaide can import an entirely new breeding pair then. A new breeding pair would be beneficial in establishing a regional breeding program, alongside Melbourne and potentially Tasmania.
That's right! It's the females that are still at Melbourne awaiting transport to Wellington. My brain mixed them up.
Hopefully Adelaide can import an entirely new breeding pair then. A new breeding pair would be beneficial in establishing a regional breeding program, alongside Melbourne and potentially Tasmania.
A new breeding pair comprised of two founders would be beneficial given the regional population will soon descend from a single pair. Miska at Melbourne is six years old and therefore has another six or so years of reproduction ahead of her. Beyond that, a second founder pair could supply a first generation cub to pair with one of her first generation offspring at Melbourne following the retirement of Kang Ju and Miska.
Melbourne hopes to breed Kang Ju and Miska at least another two times; so with gaps of three or so years, this could be achieved. They plan to reintroduce Kang Ju and Miska again once the female cubs are sent to Wellington. And I've just remembered, there's no plans to breed from their first litter as of yet; especially as there's only a certain few holders in the region. This of course means Sikari at Tasmania probably won't receive a mate anytime soon.
It's also sensible to slow the intergenerational gaps. Melbourne's pair were young parents, so breeding from a cub from their final litter would be the best way to go - possibly paired with a cub from Adelaide's new pair.
The second litter may well be non breeding too - perhaps Billabong will take a sibling pair as replacement for their elderly cats. These could be retained as a contingency in case Melbourne are unable to produce a third litter for whatever reason.
I agree; that's the plan. It's likely the second litter will also be placed into a non breeding situation, or even sent overseas.
If a third litter is breed, these will likely be introduced into the breeding program as a replacement for Kang Ju and Miska. One could possibly be part of the next breeding pair at Melbourne, with another paired with an offspring of (possibly) Adelaide's pair; at another facility.
Swanson02
Well-Known Member
I was just told by two keepers they were now preferred by management over Sri Lankans, plans change and they might revert back to Sri Lankans (I hope
). Could the ZAA step in and recommend they take Sri Lankans? I think the main reason they want Snow Leopard as they would be a contingency in the Bamboo forest area if the Giant pandas were ever abruptly removed. I.e. Adelaide would still have a major feature species in the area, not just red pandas.The only thing is there is no room for them in the old master plan map, as the new 'Jungle Journey' area will back right onto the Bamboo forest.
I was just told by two keepers they were now preferred by management over Sri Lankans, plans change and they might revert back to Sri Lankans (I hope
The only thing is there is no room for them in the old master plan map, as the new 'Jungle Journey' area will back right onto the Bamboo forest.
I'd imagine if Adelaide do want Snow Leopards, they'd import them. The region needs a secondary breeding holder of Snow Leopards, especially if they want to establish a regional population.
Sri Lankan Leopards, on the other hand, already have two breeding holders, and could possibly have more in the future.
Adelaide have always had plans to replace Gorillas with Giant Pandas, and that goes way back to when the Giant Pandas first arrived; the enclosures were designed with gorillas in mind. This was before the Red Pandas were apart of the trail though. Now, it would be much easier to replace their Pandas with Snow Leopards.
Yet, it appears Adelaide is staying put with Pandas going into the future so it appears Snow Leopards and/or Gorillas may be unlikely.
Let's also remember that climate wise Sri Lankan Leopards would be a far better option that snow Leopards for Adelaide with their real hot summer weather despite adding aircon.I was just told by two keepers they were now preferred by management over Sri Lankans, plans change and they might revert back to Sri Lankans (I hope
The only thing is there is no room for them in the old master plan map, as the new 'Jungle Journey' area will back right onto the Bamboo forest.
Last edited:
I was just told by two keepers they were now preferred by management over Sri Lankans, plans change and they might revert back to Sri Lankans (I hope
The only thing is there is no room for them in the old master plan map, as the new 'Jungle Journey' area will back right onto the Bamboo forest.
The ZAA would have no direct influence on whether Adelaide took on Sri Lankan leopard which is a shame as the breeding programme desperately needs more holders and nobody's interested.
The future of Sri Lankan could well be at Monarto via walking trails etc. The masterplan for Adelaide has been changed, do there's no reason to believe Monarto's won't adapt in response.
Last edited:
Adelaide is a bit hotter than Melbourne; but it could still be done. Melbourne has managed them, and even Mogo, Billabong (and Taronga in the past) in hot weather. It can be done, it's just whether Adelaide is willing to invest in them.