Blank Park Zoo welcomes a snow leopard to the family — the zoo's first since 2019
Blank Park Zoo is welcoming a cute new addition to the family: MJ, the 7-year-old snow leopard.
MJ is from the Bronx Zoo and moved to Des Moines based on a recommendation of the Species Survival Plan.
“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, in a news release.
Snow leopards are solitary animals and live in mountain ranges of central and south Asia and are listed as ‘vulnerable’ by the IUCN, according to the zoo. Their natural camouflage makes it hard for researchers to get an accurate count of them in natural habitats.
This isn't the first time snow leopards have lived at Blank Park Zoo. The most recent residents were moved out after a litter of lion cubs was born in 2017.
In 2019, Blank Park Zoo converted the snow leopard habitat to extra space for the lions, and the pair of snow leopards were moved to other zoos. Now, that litter of lion cubs has grown up and moved to other zoos creating space for a snow leopard to return.
Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines' Blank Park Zoo welcomes MJ the snow leopard
