Warsaw-born snow leopard to move abroad

Pamir, a snow leopard raised at the zoological garden in Poland’s capital, is set to move abroad, with his transfer to Nuremberg Zoo in southern Germany, officials announced.  

Pamir, a snow leopard bred at the zoological garden in Poland’s capital, will soon relocate abroad.

Photo: courtesy of Warsaw Zoo/Marta Tomczyk

The animal was born on 2 June 2024 to parents Suri and Jamir and quickly became a favourite among zoo staff and visitors.

There are only around 400 snow leopards left in the wild, mainly in Tibet and Central Asia. Due to their nearly silent movements, they are commonly referred to as "Mountain Ghosts."

Snow leopards, or Panthera uncia, are native to Central Asia and closely related to tigers. They are solitary animals, weighing up to 50 kilograms, with long, bushy tails and thick fur that helps them survive in freezing mountain environments.

🎉 Kochani! Powoli zbliża się dzień pożegnania z Pamirem. Zgodnie z decyzją koordynatora gatunku nasz młody samiec...

Opublikowany przez Warszawskie ZOO Piątek, 7 listopada 2025

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), snow leopards are classified as vulnerable, with an estimated 4,000–6,500 individuals remaining in the wild. Threats include poaching, habitat loss, declining prey populations, and climate change affecting high-altitude ecosystems.

Pamir’s move is part of a coordinated breeding programme designed to maintain genetic diversity among captive snow leopards. Visitors to Warsaw Zoo are encouraged to see him one last time at his enclosure near the lion habitat before he departs.

Read more about this topic:

• Rare "Mountain Ghost" born at Warsaw Zoo

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Source: Polish Radio English Section/Warsaw ZOO/PAP