The new habitat for leopards will be built in the zoo’s former cat habitat once also occupied by the African lions and Amur tigers. Earlier, the African lions and Amur tigers moved into their new habitats.

The projects to build new habitats for the cats are being done for the zoo’s centennial celebration in 2021.

Jennifer Kleen, executive director of the Greater Minot Zoological Society, the support arm of Roosevelt Park Zoo, said there will be a continuation of the current capital campaign to raise funds for the new leopard habitat. She said the estimated cost of the project is about $2.2 million. It has not gone to bid yet.

Kleen said the African lion and Amur tiger habitats have been paid off including the revenue bond from the Minot Park District. The total of those two projects was $6.2 million including the revenue bond.

Submitted Art Mountain and glass viewing pergolas are on the east and west ends of the leopard habitat.

Jeremy Bickel, of Ackerman-Estvold architectural firm in Minot, designed the leopard habitat. He also designed the African lion and Amur tiger habitats.

The zoo’s two snow leopards were sent to the Wahpeton zoo, Kleen said.

“We have one Amur leopard here from the same region as the tigers. Clover, who was born on St. Patrick’s Day in 2010, moved in on Thursday with the Amur tigers while this new area is built.” She said Clover has a separate yard from the tigers.

Kleen said the zoo hopes to get more Amur leopards and eventually have an Amur leopard breeding program.

For information about donating to the Amur leopard habitat call Kleen at the zoo at 857-4166.

Other projects are also under way at the zoo.

The red pandas are getting a shade structure on the visitors side of their habitat. This will give them protection from the hot sun, Kleen said.

The entire zoo is being repaved this fall. A Minot Park District project, it is expected to be completed by late October, depending on weather. The work is being done by Minot Paving Co.

Work has been completed recently to stain the pergola at the tiger habitat. The personalized brick pavers at the tiger habitat will be going in shortly, Kleen said.

The Centennial Building (aviary) is being repainted. The building’s stucco was repaired earlier this year, according to Kleen.

Tamarins, small monkeys housed in the Visitors Center, moved to the Dallas World Aquarium in January. Currently, that area in the Visitors Center is under construction and closed off to visitors.

Kleen said the tamarins will be replaced with a new species to be unveiled later.