This is a warm fuzzy story for the weekend. The snow leopard cubs that were born at the Woodland Park Zoo just got their six-week checkup.
The zoo says the 7-pound boy and 6-pound girl (above) are playing, growing and starting to eat solid foods. Zookeepers say their favorite game right now is playing with mom’s tail. The public still hasn’t had their first glimpse of the playful cats, and the zoo plans to hold a public naming contest later this summer. By the way, the zoo is partnered with Seattle-based Snow Leopard Trust, which endeavors to save these endangered cats, care for them and conserve them in the wild. More information about the snow leopard’s conservation efforts here.
Snow leopard cubs get six-week check up
What a shame that a wonderful animal is relegated to the demeaning role as an attraction in a circus. Zoos in general and Woodland park in particular are abominations that only exploit wildlife for profit. Let the discussion ensue!!
Referring to a recognized world-class facility for preservation and education? Really?
Re. Elephant exploitation. Follow the money…as always.
Come on.. you can't be that naive. Zoos exist primarily to enrich the principals. Conservation, meaningful conservation, will only occur in the affected environments, not in the artificial environment of the zoos. Animals, exist a components of a system of wonderful and unknowable complexity, not as isolated entities in the sterility of a zoo enclosure.
I look into the leopard's eyes and see an unfathomable sadness, never to know the Himalayan snow; to be free. Read “The Snow Leopard” by Peter Matthiessen. 'Nuff said!
Kem you can't give some credit for zoos' education and preservation efforts? Now circuses and Vegas acts – that's really bad!
What a gorgeous creature! I'm glad that there are now two more of them in the world.
It always amazes me to think I live so close to grizzly bears, lions and animals such as these snow leopards. Having the Zoo in our neighborhood is a great educational resource and for us and our children.
Too right. Whatever you think of zoos (and I'm not a big fan of them), this does give people a chance to look an animal like this in the eye and get a better connection to it. This one just happens to be very cutie pie.