Sacramento Zoo's snow leopard Blizzard leaving for new home
SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Zoo's beloved snow leopard will soon be leaving for a new home after spending more than a decade at the zoo.
The 13-year-old big cat named Blizzard first came to the zoo just one year after he was born at a zoo in Canada.
"It is definitely bittersweet to say goodbye to our favorites, but we know it is for a good reason. He is going off to continue the snow leopard population," said Brooke Coe, education program manager for the Sacramento Zoo.
Zoo officials announced Monday that Blizzard would be leaving in early October as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan.
Exactly where Blizzard is going will not be disclosed until he safely arrives, but zoo officials say it's part of a breeding recommendation.
"This is going to be the last time snow leopards will be at the Sacramento zoo. It is a big deal. It's a big change for the zoo. There is going to be a lot of changes as we transition to the new zoo and snow leopards are not in our first phase of the new zoo," Coe said.
People are urged to visit this weekend before Blizzard says goodbye.
Blizzard first became a dad in 2018 to a cub named Coconut with his partner Misha. It was the first snow leopard birth to happen at the Sacramento Zoo since 2006.
It is estimated there are only 4,000 to 7,000 snow leopards left in the wild.
"Snow leopards are absolutely an endangered species. It is really important for them to be represented in zoos," Coe said.
When it comes to caring for a snow cat in a hot climate, Coe said it takes a little extra care.
"Every animal including snow leopards can adapt to different climates. However, it's still a snow leopard, still very fluffy, lots and lots of fur," Coe said. "He has an area in the back that is air conditioned, during the hot months we bring in big things of ice to cool him down as enrichment. We need to give him those opportunities to cool off because of all that extra fluff."
The Sacramento Zoo said it is already planning for future animals in the snow leopard habitat.
