“There’s one in there!”
A child points toward the rocks, prompting their family to stop and search for the snow leopard hidden among the rocky outcrops. A few minutes later, another group gathers along the pathway, heads tilting skyward: “Look! It’s up there!”
These are the little moments that bring Asian Highlands to life. Since the new experience opened at the Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo in July, guests have been exploring the eastern Himalayas — and discovering that sometimes the most memorable wildlife encounters begin with looking a little closer.
Guests peer through the glass, scanning the rocks and camouflage for a glimpse of Pemba or Leika. When one is spotted, the news travels quickly.
“There’s another one!” one excited young guest calls out, while another describes a sleeping snow leopard as a “furball” among the rocks.
While snow leopards may be the animals many guests hope to see, the Sichuan takin offer a different kind of discovery. For many guests, it’s their first encounter with this unusual goat-antelope — and they’re not quite sure what they’re looking at.
“I don’t even know what these guys are! It’s the first time I’ve seen them,” a dad tells his son before getting a closer look. “Wow, they’re so close!” his son replies.
Others pause to sound out “Sichuan takin” (pronounced suh-chwan tah-kin), watching them graze across the rolling habitat, and waiting patiently for a glimpse near the waterfall.
Then there are the moments when one person’s discovery becomes everyone’s.
High above the pathway, a red panda can be easy to miss. Until an observant guest spots one and points upward. Someone else follows their gaze. Soon, a small crowd has gathered, phones raised and fingers pointing toward the branches.
In a space designed to help guests explore the changing elevations of the Himalayas, the red pandas offer a literal reason to look up.
The discoveries aren’t limited to what’s behind the glass. Along the pathway, guests can get hands-on with biofacts from the zoo’s Educational Resource Collection, presented by ConocoPhillips Canada, while interactive elements invite them to compare their heights to elevation markers, investigate hidden details and learn more about the animals. Some even photograph interpretive panels to take their questions home.
“Asian Highlands was designed to spark curiosity, helping guests connect not only with remarkable Himalayan wildlife, but also with the ecosystems they call home,” says Kayley Evans, senior interpretive strategist at the Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo. “Along the journey, each discovery reveals how animals have adapted to life in the Himalayas and how people are already making a positive difference through conservation efforts. Our hope is that every guest leaves inspired to become part of that story.”
You never quite know what you’ll discover in Asian Highlands. You might find a snow leopard hiding in plain sight, meet a species you’ve never seen before — or simply look up at the right moment.
Learn more at calgaryzoo.com/imagine-asia.
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