A unique retinocolobomatous syndrome, the multiple ocular coloboma (MOC) is described in sixteen snow leopards belonging to the Helsinki Zoo pedigree. MOC has been diagnosed in snow leopards from four other zoos in the world. The same syndrome has been reported in the domestic cat, but is not known in any other species. Multidisciplinary investigations have not been able to explain the causes of MOC. MOC is an example of a hitherto unknown type of familial malformations where the available evidence strongly points to nongenetic maternal influences or some external factor affecting all the fetuses in the same way.

The international studbook for Snow leopards Panthera uncia was established at Helsinki Zoo in 1976. This paper reports on the status of the captive population over the last three decades and contains genetic and demographic analysis using the Single Population Analysis and Records Keeping System computer program. The number of collections maintaining the species has increased from ten in 1961 to 160 in 1991 and the captive population as at 1 January 1992 was 541. A total of 1599 Snow leopards have been listed in the studbook of which 27% (428), one‐third of wild‐caught and a quarter of captive‐bred animals, have bred. The captive population has 53 founders 11 of which are still living. Founder genetic contribution ranges from 0–1 to 8‐6% with a mean representation of 1–8±1–95%. As at January 1992 98% of the living population was captive bred.

Nordens Ark is a non‐profit foundation aiming to provide self‐sustainable viable populations of threatened species through conservation breeding and reintroduction programmes. In 2001, an important decision was made to be part of a scientific society with close contacts to universities, and to appoint a professor in conservation biology as the scientific leader. Together with the universities, new programmes were developed where traditional academic knowledge could be combined with the experience and practical hands‐on knowledge of the zoo world. Components of these programmes are held at Nordens Ark on a contracted basis. Nordens Ark has developed international research schools together with Gothenburg University, and conservation aspects of threatened wild animal species and domestic breeds provide the overarching theme. Nordens Ark has successfully taken part in breeding and reintroduction programmes for, among others, the White‐backed woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos, the Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus, the Lesser white‐fronted goose Anser erythropus, the Green toad Bufo viridis and the Fire‐bellied toad Bombina bombina. Nordens Ark has also been contracted by national and international conservation authorities or organizations to ensure that the best possible conservation measures are taken when conflicts arise between infrastructure projects and the conservation of threatened species.

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