Bhutan, a snow leopard at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, is a major attraction at the zoo both for his majestic beauty and his playfulness.
But these days, Bhutan is getting a lot of attention for another reason: his high sperm count. While many male snow leopards in captivity have low sperm counts, Bhutan's is off the charts in the other direction.
Researchers at the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine think Bhutan -- his environment and his diet -- could offer clues as to how to help other snow leopards reproduce.
Jason Herrick, of the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, is conducting the study. Eric Klaphake is an associate veterinarian at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and cares for Bhutan. They spoke with CPR's Andrea Dukakis.
