![]() ![]() ![]() Seen in over 70 zoos in North America and approximately 150 zoos worldwide, the snow leopard reaches more than 100 million zoo visitors annually. Thanks to international cooperation among zoo professionals, this rare cat has become almost a standard in zoological gardens. SSP capacity for snow leopards continues to grow slowly with one or two new participants each year (Wharton 1996).Īs an inhabitant of high mountain habitats relatively inaccessible to humans, the snow leopard was traditionally an elusive creature of an almost mythical quality. We expect this strategy will allow slight growth of the population over a long period of time. Thus it has been suggested that the number of breeding recommendations remain at 25 per year, yielding approximately 12.5 litters at two cubs each, therefore 25 cubs per year. However, in recognizing current capacity for this species and perhaps some management refinements via mean kinship, the SSP suggests a target population in the 250-300 range. 40, the Snow Leopard SSP calculates the need for a population of 298 animals. Allowing for 90% retention of genetic diversity for 100 years, given an Ne/N of. The North American snow leopard population is scientifically managed for genetic and demographic stability. This population is descended from 38 wildcaught ancestors, most of whom came into captivity in the 1960's. The AZA SSP population now stands at about 275 individuals (Varsik 1995) and could double every seven years if breeding is not closely managed (Wharton and Freeman 1988). Husbandry techniques, including nutrition, preventative medicine, housing and behavioral management, are well-developed. The majority of animals set up for breeding are successful within several years and virtually all cubs born are mother-reared. The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) Snow Leopard Species Survival Plan© (SSP) was officially launched in 1984 and is now a mature program that encounters few difficulties in achieving breeding goals. In fact, the Copenhagen animals are now represented to some degree in a good many of the captive-bred snow leopards living today. ![]() Although breeding of the species in captivity was recorded as early as 1906 and again in 19, it was not until Copenhagen bred their wildcaught pair in the 1950's that cubs survived long enough to become breeders themselves (Crandall 1964). Another half-century passed before all of the management variables related to behavior, diet and veterinary care began to fall into place. But the captive success with snow leopards was by no means guaranteed at that time. London then acquired a male in 1894 (Flower 1894) and by 1903, New York, Berlin, Moscow and London all had specimens on exhibit (Peel 1903 Anonymous 1903). ![]() The first serious attempt to keep snow leopards in captivity was probably in 1891 when the London Zoo acquired an unsexed specimen from Bhutan (Godman 1891, Sclater 1896). Poaching for fur, however, still occurs and snow leopards are also perceived as livestock pests in some areas. Today, the legal fur trade has been greatly curtailed and legal protection is provided to some degree in all twelve countries (Green 1986). As late as 1966, The New York Times Magazine published a full-page ad for snow leopard fur coats (Conway 1968). In the early part of the century, thousands of skins were taken for the fur trade. Human encounters with snow leopards are greater and higher percentages of these encounters have been fatal to the animals. What has changed over the last 100 years is the mobility and ability of humans to exploit wildlife for a better living. Most of the snow leopard's high mountain habitat remains largely untouched, stretching across twelve countries of Asia, from Mongolia in the north, to Burma in the south. It is estimated that the wild population probably does not exceed 5,000 individuals today (Green 1986). Department of Interior, and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) all list the animal as endangered. Unfortunately, the World Conservation Union (IUCN), U.S. The snow leopard ( Panthera uncia) is considered one of the most beautiful of large cats. AZA Species Survival Plan Profile: The Snow Leopard ![]()
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