Miller Park Zoo celebrates Snow Leopard cubs

[July 16, 2016]  BLOOMINGTON - Snow Leopards are an endangered species with less than 7,000 left in the wild in Central Asia, but three more have recently been born in Bloomington.

“Rilu” (dad) and “Hima” (mom) became parents of three female cubs on May 12, 2016 at 4:30 PM. This was the second straight successful litter for the pair and for the Miller Park Zoo. The cubs are now on exhibit at the Katthoefer Animal Building.

The Zoo celebrated the birth of two female cubs last year as well but Hima did not show the maternal instincts that are necessary to support the cubs. Staff stepped in and hand-raised the cubs. After a year-long effort from Zoo staff of working with Hima and making changes in the protocol such as moving her to a different location in the Zoo and providing a den box, Hima is raising her cubs this year! “It is always ideal and preferred for the mother to take care of any baby at the Zoo,” state Zoo Director Jay Tetzloff.

Rilu and Hima were recommended to breed, as they are part of the Snow Leopard Species Survival Plan® (SSP) through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which Miller Park Zoo is accredited. Miller Park Zoo Director, Jay Tetzloff, has served as the Snow Leopard SSP Coordinator since 2007. The SSP manages all Snow Leopards within North America at approximately 68 institutions. An SSP strives to manage and conserve an endangered, ex situ species population with the cooperation of AZA-accredited institutions. SSP Programs develop a Breeding and Transfer Plan that identifies population management goals and recommendations to ensure the sustainability of a healthy, genetically diverse, and demographically varied population.

Snow Leopards have not bred well in North American zoos over the last ten years averaging less than 10 cubs each year. This year cubs at four zoos (Miller Park Zoo, Cleveland, Idaho Falls, and Akron) have been born in the SSP. Miller Park Zoo is the only to have cubs born consecutive years.

The cubs will be named at the Miller Park Zoological Society’s biggest fundraiser, Zoo Do, on September 24, 2016. The cubs will remain at the Zoo until fall of 2017 where they will be transferred to other zoological institutions for future breeding.

For more information contact Jay Tetzloff at Miller Park Zoo, 309-434-2250.

[Jay Tetzloff, Miller Park Zoo Director]