New arrival!

It's been pretty hectic the last week or so at WHF, mainly preparing for the imminent open days - painting stand off fences, weeding etc amongst the usual hustle and bustle of daily life at the site. I've been away for two weeks (returning last Saturday) and came back to some exciting news... the new snow leopard was due to arrive the following week!

Yarko's arrival

This snow leopard has been a bit of a mystery cat. He was due to arrive in January 2013 - it's now June 2013. He's a little bit late bless him. Laila, our resident female, has been awaiting his arrival and slowly becoming more reclusive in the meantime so his arrival was much anticipated. Since I've been at WHF it's very much been "he's coming but who knows when!", so hearing this news was very exciting. 

Unloading to the den

So on Wednesday we were all waiting and hoping, getting regular updates throughout the day and finally heard that he'd been cleared through Heathrow Airport and was on his way! After much waiting he finally arrived at WHF at around 7pm to a small crowd of people able to stay and help unload him. He was quite active in his crate, obviously keen to get out after his long journey from Russia. After some rearranging of the crate to the den door he finally emerged into his new home. 

First day outside

Safely arrived in his new home

His name is Yarko, he's 2 years old and amazingly handsome (for a snow leopard). He'll now be in quarantine for 4months, but in the meantime he'll be getting used to his new home (inside and out) and the other residents on site - especially the two hooligan Sumatran tiger boys opposite. He was out today for the first time in a rather precarious position underneath a platform for most of the day watching the world go by. It has to be quite a shock to be in the Kent countryside after living in Russia, but hopefully he'll settle in quickly and get to meet Laila in a few months time!  

Yarko's arrival takes us back up to 57 cats with the departure of Little Khan the Pallas Cat (to Cotswold) a few weeks ago