SASKATOON — Kazi, a snow leopard, is the newest addition to the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo family.
Renovation at the Nutrien Ark, home of the previous cougar exhibit, began last month and Kazi will be introduced later this month. The cougar exhibit was empty for almost a month after Malcolm, the previous occupant, died in early August due to old age.
Zoo manager Jeff Mitchell said they are excited for Kazi’s arrival as they wanted to bring intressting species to the city.
“Snow leopards are beautiful animals with many unique adaptations that help them thrive in cold weather conditions like we experience here in Saskatoon.”
Saskatoon’s weather will be perfect for Kazi, as snow leopards are known to thrive in winter conditions. Their fur keeps them insulated in cold weather.
They have wide and fur-covered feet that act as natural snowshoes to help distribute their weight over the soft snow. In addition, their fur also works as camouflage, making them hard to spot in the wild.
Snow leopards are also known for their agility, as their short forelimbs and long hind legs allow them to navigate steep and rugged terrain with ease.
Snow leopards are native in the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia where they can be found at elevations from 3,000 to 4,500 feet in the alpine and subalpine zones of Afghanistan, the Himalayas, the Tibetan Plateau, Siberia, Mongolia and parts of western China.
They are listed as vulnerable species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
The zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or visit saskatoon.ca/zoo for more information.
