A SNOW leopard which featured in a movie starring Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman makes his debut at a South Lakeland zoo today.

Young male Pavan, one of two leopards who played the part of Stelamaria in the movie The Golden Compass, will be on show to the public at his new walk-through enclosure at Lakeland Wildlife Oasis at Hale, near Milnthorpe.

Staff have created a homely feel for their new feline friend with the enclosure designed to look like a Himalayan village with plenty of rocks for him to climb and snooze on.

An acrylic tunnel running through the enclosure will allow visitors to see Pavan in his own habitat in what is thought to be the UK’s first walk-through big cat exhibit.

Assistant manager of Lakeland Wildlife Oasis, Caroline Howard, said: “We’re really excited about Pavan’s arrival - he’s a real celebrity cat!

“His new home is amazing.

“You can walk right through his territory while he ranges around you - even above your head!”

Pavan has arrived from UK charity the Cat Survival Trust which helps conserve endangered cats.

Once he has settled in his new environment, zoo staff hope to form a breeding pair by adding a female snow leopard to Pavan’s enclosure.

It is not known how many snow leopards are left in the wild but they are now classed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Lakeland Wildlife Oasis is joining the captive breeding programme which is run by the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums.