By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Dropping hints leading up to the announcement, the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo welcomed a pair of Clouded Leopards to the zoo family last week. The zoo’s African Leopard, Toby, passed away this past May at 19 years old, so the addition of the new leopards was more than exciting for zoo staff.
Zoo Curator Ashley Burdick said the animals are still adjusting to their new home but will hopefully be available for the public to see soon.
"They're a little bit more of a secretive cat, so it will take longer for them to get into our swing of things," said Burdick. "We did put a camera in there to keep an eye on them. We're hoping they will settle in and get to use us soon."
Burdick said Brit Spaugh makes use of an online service that connects zoos from all over to notify them when animals are available. The six-year-old leopards are a successful breeding pair on loan from the Golf Breeze Zoo in Florida.
"The other facility still owns them," said Burdick. "They could, if they ever decided, to take them back but they were needing space to get a different species. I don't think they'll take them back. If we have any cubs, there is a loan agreement that they get to keep some. We could also keep some or place them at other zoos."
Zoo staff had the cage work in the leopard exhibit sandblasted and repainted, added more platforms and privacy panels.