Snow Leopards are coming to New Zealand: Wellington has unveiled an artists impression of the new exhibit which is planned to be open by the end of 2016 subject to funding - The leopards themselves are expected to be sourced from the USA and/or Europe
From the Himalayas to windy Wellington: snow leopards are on the way.
Plans to introduce the animals to Wellingtonians are pushing ahead, provided the zoo can secure $3 million in funding.
Wellington Zoo updated Wellington City Council's environment committee last week on its plans for its next big exhibit: a snow leopard enclosure replacing the old sun bear home, to complete the zoo's Asia precinct.
he display of big cats from Central Asia could be open to the public by September 2016 if all goes to plan, Wellington Zoo's acting chief executive Amy Hughes said.
"Once we secure some funding, we're ready and raring to go."
The zoo had missed out on funding in Wellington City Council's long-term plan, but hoped to be able to secure cash when capital spending was reviewed mid-year, she said.
Designs and final costings were being done, but it would not cost more than $3m.
Transport costs to get the snow leopards here, probably from the United States or Europe, would come out of other budgets.
Councillor Iona Pannett, chairwoman of the environment committee, said some funds could become available in mid-year if planned capital projects could not go ahead for any reason. If so, the zoo would be measured against other projects that were ready to go as a way of getting some tangible projects completed.
"It would be really exciting, so it's definitely not being dismissed at this point ... you always do need to be thinking about adding some new animals to the mix."
Hughes said the snow leopards would be an exciting addition to the zoo if it went ahead, as they would be New Zealand's first.
There were only about 7000 of the cats left in the world, so it was an opportunity to teach people about the animals and the efforts to save them, she said.
Snow leopards are used to extreme weather in their natural habitat, which ranges from southern Siberia to the Tibetan plateau, so they ought to be able to cope with Wellington's wind chill. They had big thick tails, which they wrapped around them like blankets, Hughes said.
They would be the zoo's next big project after the completion of its $21m 10-year development that included building The Nest animal hospital, creating the Asian Precinct, and the development of the Meet the Locals precinct, which will open later this year.
Snow leopards could be in Wellington by end of 2016 | Stuff.co.nz
From the Himalayas to windy Wellington: snow leopards are on the way.
Plans to introduce the animals to Wellingtonians are pushing ahead, provided the zoo can secure $3 million in funding.
Wellington Zoo updated Wellington City Council's environment committee last week on its plans for its next big exhibit: a snow leopard enclosure replacing the old sun bear home, to complete the zoo's Asia precinct.
he display of big cats from Central Asia could be open to the public by September 2016 if all goes to plan, Wellington Zoo's acting chief executive Amy Hughes said.
"Once we secure some funding, we're ready and raring to go."
The zoo had missed out on funding in Wellington City Council's long-term plan, but hoped to be able to secure cash when capital spending was reviewed mid-year, she said.
Designs and final costings were being done, but it would not cost more than $3m.
Transport costs to get the snow leopards here, probably from the United States or Europe, would come out of other budgets.
Councillor Iona Pannett, chairwoman of the environment committee, said some funds could become available in mid-year if planned capital projects could not go ahead for any reason. If so, the zoo would be measured against other projects that were ready to go as a way of getting some tangible projects completed.
"It would be really exciting, so it's definitely not being dismissed at this point ... you always do need to be thinking about adding some new animals to the mix."
Hughes said the snow leopards would be an exciting addition to the zoo if it went ahead, as they would be New Zealand's first.
There were only about 7000 of the cats left in the world, so it was an opportunity to teach people about the animals and the efforts to save them, she said.
Snow leopards are used to extreme weather in their natural habitat, which ranges from southern Siberia to the Tibetan plateau, so they ought to be able to cope with Wellington's wind chill. They had big thick tails, which they wrapped around them like blankets, Hughes said.
They would be the zoo's next big project after the completion of its $21m 10-year development that included building The Nest animal hospital, creating the Asian Precinct, and the development of the Meet the Locals precinct, which will open later this year.
Snow leopards could be in Wellington by end of 2016 | Stuff.co.nz
