The Milwaukee County Zoo now has 2 snow leopards, and zookeepers hope they will breed

Amy Schwabe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·1 min read
Choto, a 2-year-old snow leopard, has arrived at the Milwaukee County Zoo from North Dakota.

Choto, a 2-year-old male snow leopard recently arrived at the Milwaukee County Zoo from the Dakota Zoo in Bismarck, North Dakota.

The zoo is already home to Orya, a 9-year-old female snow leopard, and the hope is that the animals will breed once Orya shows she's comfortable and interested in her new companion.

According to the zoo's announcement, snow leopards are seasonal breeders and the two snow leopards will have between four and five opportunities to breed this year if they're interested in each other.

Zookeepers say Choto is acclimating well to his home at Big Cat Country, describing him as "very sweet and quite vocal."

More: The Milwaukee County Zoo's newest baby animal's name means 'cute' in Spanish

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee County Zoo welcomes a new snow leopard