@Blackduiker and whoever else wants to chime in: I think that this may be the best leopard exhibit that I have seen in a zoo. It has lots of room for the leopards to roam, climb, and to disappear. Where are other good leopard exhibits that you have seen?
As far as I'm aware there isn't any other than those in breeding centres. With the population so low and the amount of other subspecies/generics knocking around I don't think it's likely that we'll see any soon either.
This seems to be the leopard subspecies that all AZA zoos are focusing on, regardless of appropriate exhibit theme. For leopard exhibits that aren't part of Russian ecosystem exhibits (which seems to be everything but Minnesota), the Amur leopards are playing the role of every other kind of leopard (e.g., African, Arabian).
I was pleased to find this individual so active on this, my second visit to the Living Desert Zoo. On first visiting back in January of 2010, I had no sightings. Maybe the warmer weather, low 90s as compared to mid 70s made a difference. And when you think about it, do warmer temperatures prevent zoos from exhibiting snow leopards throughout the world?
This seems to be the leopard subspecies that all AZA zoos are focusing on, regardless of appropriate exhibit theme. For leopard exhibits that aren't part of Russian ecosystem exhibits (which seems to be everything but Minnesota), the Amur leopards are playing the role of every other kind of leopard (e.g., African, Arabian).
