This week we are saying farewell to our snow leopard boy, Khumbu. After a slight delay, Khumbu is now finally ready to go and begin his new life and will be leaving on Wednesday 16th February!
Khumbu will be heading to our friends at Twycross Zoo, in Warwickshire and we are confident that he’ll lead a happy and healthy life there.
The keeper team have been conducting crate training sessions with Khumbu. This rewards Khumbu for getting into the crate himself and not only helps keep him calm but negates the need for an anaesthetic.
He will be playing a vital part in the conservation of his species as part of the international breeding programme for snow leopards and with a female snow leopard waiting for him there as a breeding partner, we are hoping that he will soon become an amazing father to snow leopard cubs of his own!
The international breeding programme helps to create a safety back up population to protect the species in the wild from extinction and where viable to reintroduce them to their natural habitat.
Khumbu and his brother Koshi were born in 2019 to parents Laila and Yarko. Khumbu was always a real mummy’s boy from a young age, often found cuddled up to Laila and staying by her side on their high platforms. Much like his father Yarko, Khumbu is a reserved and quiet cat who is happy in his own company.
He’d often wait for Koshi’s lead when interacting with enrichments, but after seeing his brother having lots of fun, Khumbu would join in too.
In November 2020, we moved Khumbu into his own enclosure as he had reached the age of independence for a maturing snow leopard.
As sad as it is to see one of our cats leave The Big Cat Sanctuary, we know that Khumbu will be in safe hands. We look forward to seeing and sharing the updates from Twycross and hopefully watching Khumbu take the next steps to having a family of his own.
We will give updates on Khumbu’s move to his new home soon after he has settled in.
Take part in one of our amazing animal experiences at The Big Cat Sanctuary including big cat experiences, photography experiences, safari lodges and overnight safari stays, ranger for a day experiences and our big cat afternoon tea with Paul Hollywood. You can also adopt a big cat and help the conservation efforts that support our amazing animals!