The Dakota Zoo has enjoyed some celebrities over the years.

For a long time, Bonnie and Clyde, the resident Alaskan brown bears, stole the hearts of young and old.

Clyde was gigantic - many an area resident brought visiting friends and relatives to see the impressive beast. The two bears helped make the zoo special.

Truly a community effort, the zoo was able to use the bears to develop a reputation and gain support.

Clyde died in 1987 and Bonnie lasted another 10 years. When they died, residents mourned.

Bullwinkle the moose drew a lot of attention until his death in 2002.

Now, a star of the future has arrived at the zoo. Jerry, a 2-year-old snow leopard, came from Los Angeles early this month.

The 90-pound Jerry is the first resident of the zoo's big cat complex under construction.

The zoo has a breeding program for Jerry. First, an older leopard will be brought from Des Moines, Iowa, to get Jerry used to a female presence. In a couple of years, a young leopard will join Jerry for mating purposes.

And the zoo recently added two mountain lion kittens from Washington. The kittens' mother was found dead, and the pair were too young to survive on their own.

Jerry should make his public debut in July. The zoo hopes to have its big cat exhibit open this summer and add Siberian tigers.

The "Make the Big Cats Roar" campaign will create a safe environment for visitors to admire the latest residents. The campaign has raised the funds to build housing for big cats.

It's another step in making the zoo special.

In 2009, there are plans for a primate center and the Animals of the World building.

The Animals of the World will provide year-round viewing of red pandas, meerkats and tortoises and other small mammals and reptiles.

The primate center will house spider monkeys, lemurs, gibbons, tamarins, marmosets, wallabies. emus and muntjac.

It all means the zoo will remain a place where you'll want to bring friends and relatives.