Banham Zoo welcomes new snow leopard Aurora

Banham Zoo has said it is ‘thrilled’ following the arrival of a new female snow leopard.

Born on May 18, 2022, Aurora has travelled from Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens in Norfolk, to join the zoo’s resident male snow leopard Shen.

Aurora has been brought in as part of the EAZA European breeding programme and her partnership with Shen will be crucial for the breeding of snow leopards at Banham.

Graeme Williamson, head of living collections at the Zoological Society of East Anglia, which runs Banham and its sister site, Africa Alive, in Suffolk, said: “We are thrilled by Aurora’s arrival and are proud to do our part in protecting this endangered species, contributing to European conservation efforts right here in Norfolk.

“By participating in the EAZA European breeding programme for snow leopards, we hope to raise awareness about their plight in the wild.

“Every visitor who comes to see Aurora will be part of this global conservation effort, and we hope to inspire future generations to take action in protecting our planet’s precious wildlife.”

Aurora is considerably smaller than Shen and is reportedly already beginning to show off her personality and character at the zoo.