DRAPER, Utah — The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in Draper has added two clouded leopards to the aquarium family.
Koshi and Rhu came from the Houston Zoo and will be a central feature of the Aquarium’s new Expedition: Asia gallery that is set to open in June according to a news release from the aquarium.
“We are so excited to have these rare and beautiful animals come to our facility,” said Aquarium COO Mike Vermillion in a press release sent to FOX 13. “They will be another reminder of the actions we can take to help preserve this species and their habitat. We hope guests will enjoy watching and learning about them.”
Koshi was born on June 6, 2014 at the Houston Zoo and was named after a nature reserve in Nepal. Rhu’s name means “pure” in Hindi and was born on March 14, 2014 at the Denver Zoo, the aquarium said.
The aquarium states clouded leopards are an endangered species and there are estimated to be less than 10,000 breeding adults worldwide.
The two will be a part of the Species Survival Plan that was created to stabilize populations, improve population genetics and develop conservation efforts in their natural habitats, according the aquarium.
