Buffalo Zoo welcomes new female snow leopard
By Adam Gorski
There’s more exciting big cat news at the Buffalo Zoo.
We are happy to announce a new female snow leopard named Milja (pronounced mee-lah), who has arrived at the Buffalo Zoo on a Species Survival Plan recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Milja is 4 years old and comes to Buffalo from the Akron Zoo in Ohio. She was born on May 11, 2020 at the Milwaukee County Zoo.
She is a bit shy by nature, but once she’s out of her shell she is a confident, sweet cat who’s known to be vocal with her keepers.
Milja arrives on a breeding recommendation, with the hope that she will breed with the Zoo’s resident male snow leopard, Altai. Sabrina, the Zoo’s other female snow leopard, still resides in Buffalo.
The breeding program works to ensure a healthy, diverse population of snow leopards for years to come.
Currently, snow leopards are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and it is estimated that its species population numbers fewer than 10,000 mature individuals globally. Snow leopards are native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia, including the Himalayas.
As she continues to get comfortable in her new habitat, Milja may not always be visible on exhibit as she has access to her behind the scenes space. However, we still encourage everyone to keep an eye out for our newest snow leopard during your next visit!
