Bohdi the snow leopard (Photo courtesy of the NEW Zoo)
SUAMICO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A snow leopard from Kansas will experience his first winter in Wisconsin.
The NEW Zoo welcomed Bodhi, from the Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City, Kansas, on Tuesday.
Bodhi’s move comes about a week after the zoo unveiled its newly renovated snow leopard exhibit and less than two months after the zoo’s male snow leopard, Rajan, passed away from kidney disease.
Bodhi is a five-year-old male snow leopard who was born at the Cleveland Zoo and later moved to the Kansas zoo with his brother in 2019.
The NEW Zoo is hoping Bodhi will be a good companion for its current female snow leopard, Ahava.
At this time, the NEW Zoo does not have a breeding recommendation from the Snow Leopard Species Survival Plan, but there could be one in the future.
Bodhi and Ahava will first get to know each other while living in close proximity. They’ll have complete visual access to each other but will not share the same space at this time.
According to the zoo, “Ahava and previous male leopard Rajan never lived together full time, but she did seem to enjoy his company. Ahava is a fairly shy and reserved snow leopard who seems to take a bit longer to adjust to new surroundings and situations than some other cats might, so we plan to give their relationship lots of time to develop.”
Bodhi’s previous keepers say he is an easy-going cat, which NEW Zoo staff witnessed first-hand during his uneventful trip to Wisconsin. On his arrival, he was quick to exit his travel crate and seemed to settle into the new space quite well.
Bodhi will remain behind-the-scenes for some time as he gets to know his new keepers and acclimates to his new home, including his new feeding and care routines.
The zoo will post on social media when Bodhi is ready to enjoy his new outdoor yard space.
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