A Christmas gift for Puma Pelé

The female, Alani, and the male, Arun, will remain in Herberstein and, after a 6- to 8-week acclimatization period, will be introduced to Pele and Missoula. Another female was also on board; she will be transferred to the Salzburg Zoo.

The Herberstein Wildlife Park offers the young big cats a spacious home. In their natural habitat, spanning 3,500 square meters, they find everything a puma’s heart desires: trees and bushes of varying structures, shaded and sunny spots, scratching posts, climbing structures, viewing platforms, and, last but not least, a steep enclosure with a 25% gradient. Species-appropriate conditions for the American mountain lion—which is another name for pumas, by the way.

The enclosure also features a jumping area where the pumas showcase their impressive leaps of up to 3 meters in height. Behind the scenes, training is currently underway with Puma Pele, and the first jumps have already been successfully completed. Starting with the upcoming tourist season, visitors will be able to see this for themselves during the guided feeding sessions. For the first time in many years, four pumas are once again inhabiting the enclosure, giving guests the chance to spot these perfectly camouflaged cats.

Speaking of feeding sessions with commentary: a hidden gem in the winter is watching the red pandas being fed. Because of the summer heat, the pair is rarely seen. During the cold season, Anouk and Kaldon show their best side and prefer the vantage point by the tree, which is clearly visible in the winter.

Hours: Open daily from December 22 through January 8. The zoo is closed only on December 25 and January 1.