The mesh-covered compound was built at the site of the old predator terraces next to the tropical world Gondwanaland. Snow leopards, red pandas, griffon vultures and northern bald ibis will be at home here. On the area where the big cats were once presented on rocks, a near-natural area with boulders and sand soil and vegetation has been developed before a Himalayan rock landscape. Around 1,300 plants - from larger than six metre tall trees to perennial plants - will grow in the high mountain landscape. "With this complex enclosure design, we offer future inhabitants a suitable habitat and bring a piece of the Himalayas to Leipzig to give a fascinating insight into the living environment," says zoo director Prof. Jörg Junhold.
Within one year more than 600 supporters came together in Team Leopard Leipzig, which the Zoo and the WWF founded last year to protect the endangered big cats. In addition to the requirements for the keeping of animals and visitors' needs, the work on the complex enclosure landscape has provided an additional challenge with regard to monument conservation. According to architect Peter Rasbach, it has succeeded in preserving the historical structures and creating a complex landscape that meets the needs of animals and visitors.
Fluffy and flying inhabitants
The visitors will be welcomed by the Red Panda's Lilo (10) and Zimai (6). The cute tree-dwellers are the first stop on the tour of the high mountain landscape. The large free-flight aviary with its 31 by 18 metre dome is part of the new zoo installation. The historical aviary is currently undergoing renovation work, so this area cannot be made open to the public until September. It is then likely to be inhabited by six griffon vultures and fifteen northern bald ibis.
Species protection for snow leopard
The inhabitants of the new facility includes three representatives of the highly endangered snow leopard family. The last snow leopard cubs were born in 2012. "Of course, our efforts are pushing the breeding of these highly endangered cats. The snow leopard is one of the most endangered species of big cats worldwide, and a commitment to protect them is urgently required. This can be achieved with the creation of optimal keeping and rearing conditions, as well as with the support of on-site projects in the natural habitat. Here, for example, we are working closely with the WWF ", said Junhold, explaining the strategic orientation. Already some time before the opening of the new Himalayan landscape the animals were gradually accustomed with a lot of patience to the new, naturally designed outdoor facilities. The snow leopards were the last cats in Leipzig Zoo, which until earlier this year were housed in traditional cages. With the start of the construction for the themed area South America, the cats were temporarily moved into the tiger taiga. The demolition, including that of the old tiger farm, was the starting point for the final path towards the zoo of the future with an animal-friendly policy that follows the guidelines for the housing of valuable species. Old cage systems are now history at Leipzig Zoo.