The Ghost of the Mountains – Snow Leopard
High in a rocky enclosure designed to resemble the Himalayas lives Laila, a snow leopard with an ethereal beauty. Her thick, silvery-gray fur dotted with dark rosettes provides perfect camouflage, earning her the nickname “Ghost of the Mountains.” Laila’s journey to the zoo began when she was found injured in the wild, likely the result of a territorial dispute.
Despite her shy nature, Laila has become a favorite among visitors who marvel at her agility. She often scales the highest ledges in her enclosure, gracefully leaping from rock to rock. During the zoo’s winter months, Laila comes to life, playing with snowballs her keepers create for her and showcasing her natural adaptation to cold climates. Her story highlights the plight of snow leopards, which face threats from poaching and habitat loss, and the zoo’s efforts to protect these elusive predators.