Woodland Park Zoo, Snow Leopard, Aibek
This week’s postcard was purchased at the Woodland Park Zoo gift shop and features the male snow leopard named Aibek. The number 96583-46 is at the lower left corner on the reverse. No photographer is credited nor is there an information blurb on the card.
Bob and I have a friend who volunteers at the zoo. She had been showing us pictures of the
animals, including the snow leopards. She
said she didn’t have regular days or hours at the zoo but was often there. We crossed our fingers and chose a sunny day
to visit the zoo, hoping that she would be there. And, she was! She explained that leopards are solitary in the wild; therefore, Aibek, the male, and his
mother, Helen, came out at different times. While
Marai, mate of Aibek, and the 3 cubs came out as a group. All of the snow leopards are not out at the same time. We asked if there was a time of day when it was most likely to see the mother and cubs. She said it was not always at the same time.
When we got to the snow leopard area viewing station, we could barely see Aibek who was sleeping on top of a rock with the sun on his back. Our friend said she could tell which leopard it was by the pattern of spots on his coat. The volunteer on duty came over to talk to her and explained that Aibek had been taking a snooze up there for more than an hour and a half. Just at the moment, Aibek stretched and ambled down from the rock, posing briefly before moving to a less visible area in the enclosure. We did not get to see the cubs, Lenny, Phillis and Raya, but we will go back another time and hope to see them also.
Aibek coming down from the top of the rock where he had been taking a long nap
Aibek looking right at us
Since 1981 Woodland Park Zoo has been a conservation partner with the Snow Leopard Trust. The zoo participates in a Snow Leopard Species Survival Plan working with other accredited zoos to ensure a healthy population. In the wild their native home is in the high mountain ranges of Russia and in countries like Afghanistan, China, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, and Pakistan.
For more information about Woodland Park Zoo, see:
https://www.zoo.org/snowleopards
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=Woodland+park+snow+leopards
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