Dorje (C/N)

Dorje was a baby snow leopard, a species of large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. Snow leopards inhabit alipine and subalpine zones at elevations from 3,000 to 4,500 m (9,800 to 14,800 ft). In the northern range countries, they also occur at lower elevations. Taxonomicaly, the snow leopard was classified as Uncia uncia since the early 1930s. Based on genotyping studies, the cat is considered a member of the genus Panthera since 2008. Two subspecies have been attributed, but genetic differences between the two have not been settled.

Dorje was cared for by one of Ian Malcolm’s associates, Elizabeth Gelman. While Malcolm visited a research laboratory of the San Francisco Zoo where Malcolm had also witnessed the feeding of a baby Gorilla, the cat bit Malcolm and was scolded by her caregiver, then given a bottle of formula for a feeding. The reason for Dorje biting Malcolm was that the snow leopard wanted to be petted, upon which Malcolm reached out his hand to stroke the animal’s belly. Dorje then spun around, and sunk her teeth into Malcolm’s fingers. Malcolm yelled and Dorje was was reprimanded by her keeper, and Malcom’s hand was then disinfected and the caregiver apologized to Malcolm.