(Des Moines, IA) -- The Des Moines Blank Park Zoo has welcomed a snow leopard. It's name is MJ and it comes to Des Moines from the Bronx Zoo. Zoo keepers say the snow leopard is cautious about his new space, so visitors may not see him outside until he gets comfortable with his surroundings. The last time zoo had a snow leopard was 2017.
“MJ is a typical snow leopard. He is very cautious about his new space, so there will be times you will not see him outside until he gets comfortable with his surroundings,” said Jay Tetzloff, chief animal officer at Blank Park Zoo.
The Des Moines Blank Park Zoo says snow Leopards are solitary animals and live in mountain ranges of central and south Asia and are listed as ‘vulnerable’ by the IUCN. Their elusive nature and perfect camouflage makes it hard for researchers to get an accurate count of individuals in natural habitats.
Blank Park Zoo partners with the Snow Leopard Trust, who works to save wild snow leopards from extinction. A portion of all revenue spent at Blank Park Zoo is used to help save the wild.