Lake Superior Zoo welcomes new sand cat

The Lake Superior Zoo announced that they have welcomed a new sand cat from the Kansas City Zoo as part of a conservation effort through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Sand Cat Species Survival Plan (SSP). The female sand cat, named Bastet, is one of only 31 individuals recorded at AZA facilities as of 2021.

Bastet will be paired with one of the two mail sand cats already at the zoo and the goal is establish a breeding to maintain to “maintain a healthy and genetically diverse sand cat population.”

“Currently, Bastet is housed separately under the zoo’s standard quarantine protocols, which are followed for all new arrivals,” explained Caroline Routley, Marketing Manager for the Lake Superior Zoo Zoological Society. “During this period, she is closely monitored to ensure she is free of any transmissible diseases or parasites before being introduced to other animals. In the meantime, the zoo is making modifications to the Main Building’s sand cat habitat, creating interconnected enclosures with an overhead tunnel that will accommodate multiple cats.”

Though is no timeline for when Bastet will be introduced to one of the male cats, named Tony and Pumpkin, but she is already available to be seen by guests.