Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by Craig Newberry, Communications Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Woodland Park Zoo is preparing to say goodbye to three snow leopards born at the zoo in May 2024, as they’ve now matured enough to begin their separate journeys. Lenny, Phyllis and Raya were born under the Snow Leopard Species Survival Plan , a cooperative breeding program across accredited zoos to help ensure a healthy, self-sustaining population of the species. The cubs are nearly 2 years old now—an age when they would naturally separate from their mother. They are now able to move to different zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums to continue to be ambassadors for their species by inspiring visitors to take impactful action to help save these beautiful cats in their natural range. A cuddle puddle of siblings  Lenny, Phyllis and Raya back in December 2024.  Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Guests are encouraged to come say their final "furwells" by Apri...

Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications Beautiful Helen — mother, grandmother and matriarch of Woodland Park Zoo's snow leopards. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Woodland Park Zoo is mourning the passing of snow leopard Helen, its 20-year-old matriarch and grandmother to three cubs born exactly one year ago and currently living at the zoo. Helen was humanely euthanized today due to declining health at her advanced age. She was diagnosed two years ago with kidney disease, which is not uncommon in geriatric animals, especially felines. “For the past couple of years, we have been treating Helen for kidney disease, which we were able to diagnose because her caretakers successfully trained her to allow veterinary technicians to collect blood samples from her tail while receiving treats. After we determined that her kidneys were failing, we were able to follow the progression of her blood values and treat her with intermittent fluid supplementation for a long period of tim...

Posted by Craig Newberry, Communications Photos: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Three snow leopard cubs born at Woodland Park Zoo now have names! Their names are Lenny, Phyllis and Raya. Lenny, male, and Phyllis, female, were named by special friends of the zoo; Raya (RYE-uh), female, was named by Woodland Park Zoo animal keepers. The three cubs have been busy exploring and getting familiar with the public habitat and can now be seen by guests! The best chance to catch a glimpse of these cuties is daily between 9:30 a.m. and noon. The cubs were born on Memorial Day to mom Marai, 7, and dad Aibek, 6. This is their first litter of cubs after they were paired under the Snow Leopard Species Survival Plan, a cooperative breeding program across accredited zoos to help ensure a healthy, self-sustaining population of the species. Since snow leopards are solitary animals in the wild, the cubs’ father and grandmother Helen are housed separately. Guests can see either Aibek and Helen, 19...