PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Zoo has a new resident.
The zoo announced on Thursday, March 14 the arrival of three-year-old snow leopard Marcy. She was introduced in a press conference where hundreds of school children got to be the first to see her.
Marcy is now in her new home just in time for the beautiful spring weather. Guests can visit her inside of Big Cat Falls.
She came to the zoo on an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) breeding recommendation with the zoo's eight-year-old male Yuki, to ensure the survival of the species and maintain a genetically diverse population.
Snow leopards are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conversation of Nature (UCN) with only an estimated 7,000 remaining in the wild.
“We are so excited to have Marcy at the Zoo as we continue our important work to protect and advocate for this vulnerable species,” says Curator of Carnivores and Ungulates Maggie Morse. “Our big cat team has successfully bred this species in the past and is working on an introduction plan between Marcy and our male, Yuki.”
Marcy was born May 18, 2020, at Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York.
At three weeks old, she was diagnosed with swimmer syndrome, a condition affecting her hind legs that would have prevented her from walking if not treated successfully.
The team at Rosamond Gifford Zoo created a plan that included physical therapy sessions up to three hours a day in the zoo’s clinic. After nearly 10 weeks of therapy, Marcy was walking, running and climbing.
The public selected Marcy’s name after New York State’s tallest mountain.
