The Wildcat Sanctuary welcomes its first ever snow leopard

SANDSTONE, Minn. — The Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone has welcomed a new addition, with its first ever snow leopard adapting well to his new home.

Raj, a 13 year old snow leopard has made his way from Michigan to his new home in Minnesota. 

Unlike most of The Wildcat Sanctuary residents, Raj isn’t a rescue, he’s a retiree. 

“Raj came from the Binder Zoo, which is a zoo in Michigan. He had a great home there for 12 years, and had a very dedicated caretaker. And so the search for a retirement home that specialized in geriatric care as well as individual needs, our name came up. And after connecting with Raj’s caretaker, we both agreed this would be his perfect retirement home,” Tammy Thies, Owner and Founder of the Wildcat Sanctuary said.

Although Raj is the first ever snow leopard at the sanctuary, his caretakers and habitat were well prepared for his arrival. 

“He’s really enjoying the deep snow, even on the sunny days and the cold temperature. And come summer, I think he would prefer wintertime. So we’re going to be giving him air conditioning and probably a lot of ice enrichment come summer months as well,’ Thies said. 

Because Raj has received proper care at his previous home, he’s adapting well at the sanctuary. 

“He settled in pretty quickly. Of course, he’s a little hesitant with the big cats that he sees around the sanctuary, but each day he’s making progress. He’s exploring his habitat, and we’re really excited for springtime, where we can add more rock caves, big trees and really high platforms, things that snow leopards love,” Thies said. 

Unlike many of the sanctuary’s rescue wildcats, Raj’s transition was coordinated with his former zoo and caretaker to ensure his comfort and well-being. 

“Not only did the zoo drive him to us, and usually we’re making treks across the country on rescues, but they brought his food with him. They were here for the transition to our caretakers of what was best in Raj’s best interest in his training program, and what his routine is for the day,” Thies said. 

While the sanctuary isn’t open to the public, supporters can still play a role in Raj’s retirement. 

“He is going to be up for sponsorship too. So if people want to support Raj’s retirement here he’s on obviously pain management as he gets older for arthritis. He’s going to need his preventative vet care because he does have the papilloma virus, which is something that many captive snow leopards have,” Thies said.