Snow leopards are big cats known for their beautiful silver, white and black fur and green eyes. They have thick woolly-furred coats, large heada with powerful jaws. They have short stocky limbs for climbing and extra large paws that act like snowshoes. They have a long thick furry tail which they use as a scarf to keep their heads warm in the cold mountainous climates they live in.
Snow leopards are big cats known for their beautiful silver, white and black fur and green eyes. They have thick woolly-furred coats, large heada with powerful jaws. They have short stocky limbs for climbing and extra large paws that act like snowshoes. They have a long thick furry tail which they use as a scarf to keep their heads warm in the cold mountainous climates they live in.
They live in the mountains of Central Asia, in most areas they are found at between 3000m and 5400 m above sea level.
10-12 years in the wild, up to 20 in zoos.
Their main sources of food are the blue sheep (also known as bharal), the Asiatic ibex (a large wild goat), and the argali, a wild mountain sheep. They eat a large animal every 8-10 days.
Snow leopards are solitary and highly elusive animals.
Asian Forests
Tiger (Panthera tigris)
Mammalia
Carnivora
Snow leopards have extra large paws that act like snowshoes to keep them from sinking in the snow.
Snow leopards can jump as far as 15m and can jump 6m vertically.
Snow leopards are unable to roar unlike other big cats. They make a range of other noises including hisses, growls and mews.
The snow leopard leads a solitary life. Snow leopards come together to mate, will stay together for about a week, in that time they will hunt together. The male leaves and the female will give birth and raise the cubs on her own.
Cub
90 to 105 days
1-5 cubs ( on average 2)
300 to 600 grams
3 years for females, 4 for males
Male
Female
25-75kg with the average being 35-45kg
25-75kg with the average being 35-45kg
The snow leopard is listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation in Nature
The IUCN estimates between 2,700-3,380 individuals.
Habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, human-wildlife conflict and illegal wildlife trade.
In 2009, Dublin Zoo began working with the Snow Leopard Trust. The Snow Leopard Trust was founded in 1981 and is now the leading authority on the study and protection of snow leopards. Their conservation philosophy is based on sound science and research coupled with building community partnerships.
The funding from Dublin Zoo is going towards five on-going, sustainable and community-driven projects in Mongolia. India and Pakistan.
Snow leopards are no longer Endangered (per IUCN reclassifying them as Vulnerable). However, human conflict is a large reason for why their numbers have dwindled in recent decades. Snow leopards often hunt farm animals.
Their main sources of food are the blue sheep (also known as bharal), the Asiatic ibex (a large wild goat), and the argali, a wild mountain sheep. They eat a large animal every 8-10 days.
Snow leopards live in Central Asia (Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan).
The IUCN estimates between 2710-3386 individuals.
Snow leopards are between 75cm to 150cm from head to base of tail, tail is 80cm-105cm.
Snow leopards can live up to 10-12 years in the wild, up to 20 in zoos.
25-75kg with the average being 35-45kg.
Snow leopards can run at top speeds of up to 65km per hour.
Snow leopards live high up in the mountains of Central Asia.
Snow leopards can jump as far as 15m and can jump 6m vertically.
Snow leopards are top predators in their environment, they prey on herbivores. This helps keep population in control so that the area doesn’t become over-grazed and no food for other wildlife.
Snow leopards will live anywhere within their habitat, which would include caves.
We can help save snow leopards by supporting projects like the The Snow Leopard Trust who work to mitigate revenge killings and other conflicts.
Snow leopards have a short but wide nasal cavities that heats the freezing air prior to it reaching the lungs.
Snow leopards have a short but wide nasal cavity heats the freezing air prior to it reaching the lungs.
Snow leopards hunt their prey, usually from above, and then pounce on it.
Snow leopards have between 1-5 cubs with 2 being the average.
25-75kg with the average being 35-45kg.
Snow leopards eat every 8-10 days, eating large animals but they will settle for much smaller prey items if that’s all that’s available.
Snow leopards have babies every 2 years.
We can help save snow leopards by supporting projects like the The Snow Leopard Trust. The Snow Leopard Trust works to mitigate revenge killings and other conflicts.
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