STAFF at Milnthorpe’s Lakeland Wildlife Oasis have waved goodbye to one of their most popular residents.

Chris, the snow leopard cub born at the zoo in May 2018, has packed his case and is heading for Zurich zoo, where a prospective partner, also from a British zoo, is waiting for an introduction. While staff were sad to wave Chris off (in his special cubicle on Eurostar), they can rightfully celebrate the vital role their quiet corner of Cumbria plays in global conservation. Snow Leopards are listed as ‘vulnerable’ on the red list of most at-risk animals, with fewer than 8,000 estimated remaining in the wild. Zoo manager Jack Williams said: “It’s a real honour to be part something as important as the captive breeding programme."