Reviews for Leo, The Snow Leopard

The average rating for Leo, The Snow Leopard based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2012-01-10 00:00:00 Andrew Niederdorfer "It is not easy to be a snow leopard who needs his mother and doesn't have one. Likewise, it is not easy to be a human who needs to rescue and care for a wild animal. But Leo [the baby snow leopard] and the people who saved him went to extraordinary measures to help one another. This is their amazing story." Indeed, it is fascinating and inspiring to learn how Leo (named for the meowing sound he made as a cub) was rescued by a farmer in the snowy Krakoram mountain range in Northern Pakistan and, through a great deal of teamwork, was brought to the Bronx Zoo to become an ambassador for his species and, hopefully, a father to help further the lineage of his endangered species. I really liked the cross-cultural efforts, how people from diverse countries were united in their affection for this sweet little creature, and how they were willing to work together to make sure he survived and thrived. The photographs are wonderful, especially if, like me, you love cats and big cats. I couldn't help but feel a bit sad as young Leo had many losses (first his mother, then being taken from the farmer and farmer's family who cared for him for a few months and next from the World Wildlife Fund staff member who cared for him thereafter until his transport to America), but he seemed to weather these changes well and to bond with his new zookeepers and even with a female snow leopard who was born at the Bronx Zoo. I certainly wish him, and all the snow leopards facing challenges in the wild, the best of luck. Though the story is more informational that "storytelling" and might not be engaging for young children, I think it would appeal to those interested in animals. The information in the back about the zoo, conservation, etc. is a nice addition though sensitive readers may want to skip the last section about "Endangered Species and International Laws" that is a bit more specific about the (sad) threats facing this species.

Review # 2 was written on 2010-12-08 00:00:00 Gary Tremaine Here's another nicely-presented animal rescue story from the authors behind Owen and Mzee. Boasting stunning photos, Leo is the story of a snow leopard found orphaned in the Himalayas by a goat herder, and his eventual journey to America's Bronx zoo. (Leo could not be released into the wild because he had imprinted on humans at an early age, a deadly situation in an area plagued by poaching.) The text also includes in-depth information about snow leopards and endangered species in general. Unfortunately, the rare cats continue to be illegally killed for their fur. Leo would make a nice humane education resource for discussions on endangered species, helping animals, and selflessness (the goat herder could have decided to harm the leopard for financial gain, but he chose to do the right thing instead). Those who do not like the idea of zoos will probably dislike the decidedly pro-zoo and pro-captive breeding bent of this story. I personally am not anti-zoo, but I thought I'd throw that out there.