Chimeegui the Snow Leopard (2012-2024)

Chimeegui was 12 years old when he was euthanized at the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City, UT – the same facility where he was born in 2012. He was bred in captivity with a leopard from another zoo, leading to the births of two cubs in June 2024.

In the wild, snow leopards are found across Asia, including parts of China and Pakistan. They face numerous threats from hunting, urban and agricultural expansion, and the wild animal trade. Snow leopards are classified as Vulnerable from The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.Animals born through conservation breeding programs are unlikely to be reintroduced into the wild. Instead, they go on to be sold or traded to serve as living attractions for visitors at zoos across the country.

World Animal Protection urges everyone who loves snow leopards and other big cats to avoid zoos and enjoy them in the wild or in an accredited sanctuary.