Leopard Festival at the Zoo

On Sunday, December 3, 80 tons of snow will be delivered for the Santa Barbara Zoo’s annual “Snow Leopard Festival,” which will take place from 10 am to  3 pm. The snow will be shaped into sledding runs for kids (sleds provided), deposited in a snow play area, and provided as enrichment to many of the zoo’s animal residents, including the highly endangered big cats honored at this festival. 

At age 19, the zoo’s male snow leopard Everett is the oldest of its kind living in a zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The zoo’s female Zoe is aged 14. The two are not a breeding pair, but they often are seen on exhibit together, which is rare among this solitary species. Snow leopards are critically endangered and currently number between an estimated 3,900 and 6,400 in the wild. They have long been prized as hunter’s trophies, destroyed as predators of domestic flocks, and sought as a source of valuable fur. Adapted for the extreme weather, snow leopards have been viewed at elevations as high as 19,600 feet in summer. Their furry feet help them to stay on top of the snow by providing a greater surface area – like snow shoes – and their fur keeps their paws warm and dry, providing traction as well. 

With the holidays not far away, guests are also encouraged to visit the zoo’s temporary exhibit of reindeer, where Santa is available for photos and gift requests (Wednesdays through Sundays only, starting November 22). Two male reindeer, named Lightning and Holiday, are on view from Wednesday, November 22, 2017 through Tuesday, January 1, 2018. 

Sledding tickets are $3 and are sold at the zoo’s front gate and at the snow area. Regular admission is required to enter. Sledding is for children aged 4 to 12 only. Sleds are provided (no personal sleds). The snow play area is open to children 12 and under. For more information, call 962-5339 or visit www.sbzoo.org.