The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo now has a new home to four types of furry friends!
Asian Highlands is the newest destination at the zoo and home to Amur and snow leopards, red pandas and takin, a new species at the Zoo. It opened on Tuesday.
The new addition includes larger and more complex habitats for the animals and features several glass viewing areas for guests to get up close and personal with the animals. Asian Highlands totals 1.3 acres, giving the Amur and snow leopards three times more space to roam around and Zoo's two red pandas 25 percent more space to play.
The architecture of the Asian Highlands destination is designed with elements that reflect central China, the region these species are native to.
The total cost of the Asian Highlands project was $5.8 million, jointly funded by the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Cleveland Zoological Society, which provided $3.8 million.
The Zoo also announced Asian Lantern Festival presented by Cleveland Clinic Children's that will light up the Zoo with colorful lanterns for five weeks this summer. The festival begins July 19 and will take place evenings, Thursday through Sunday from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Guests will be immersed in Asian culture, eat Asian-inspired cuisine, watch Asian performers on the FifthThird Bank stage and shop at an authentic marketplace sponsored by T-Mobile. Tickets for the Asian Lantern Festival can be purchased online.
