Groundbreaking research is taking place at Miller Park Zoo this week.

Zoo professionals from each side of the Midwest are in Bloomington this week to attempt to inseminate one of the female snow leopards artificially. Jay Tetzloff, Superintendent of the Zoo in Bloomington indicates this is something that has only been tried once, in Europe. 

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Tetzloff is not sure what results to expect but indicates this is a practice to improve the genetics of the snow leopards in captivity. Breeding of snow leopards in the United States has a very low success rate. 

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The goal is for the snow leopard to become pregnant, but Tetzloff says this will be a learning experience for all the officials involved.

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Currently, snow leopards are off the endangered species list, but Tetzloff believes the recent census of the animal was not accurate and is among many scientists pushing to put them back on the list.