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Snow-Leopards!
16 years ago
Snow leopard
DESCRIPTION AND NATURAL HISTORY
Physical Description
The snow leopard has long, whitish or smoky-gray fur with dark, open markings or spots. This coat color and pattern effectively camouflages the snow leopard against rocks and snow, making it almost invisible. The snow leopard is a medium-sized cat measuring 1 – 1.3 meters (3.3 – 4.3 feet). Adult females weigh 35 – 40 kilograms (77 – 88 pounds). Males weigh 45 – 55 kilograms (100 – 120 pounds), although some animals reach 75 kilograms (165 pounds).
Snow leopards have large paws for walking on snow, a dense, wooly under-fur, and a thick, long tail (about 75%-90% of the body length) which can be wrapped around the face and body to help keep them warm in the mountains.
Natural History
The snow leopard inhabits remote alpine and sub-alpine zones in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Bhutan, China, India, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan and Russia.
The snow leopard is currently fragmented in its distribution, which consists of long, narrow mountain systems and scattered island habitat. It prefers steep, dry, rocky terrain with cliffs and rocky outcrops between 3,000 and 4,500 meters (9,800-14,800 feet) high. It may go higher or lower in different parts of its range. It is an excellent climber and prefers traveling along major ridgelines, gullies and broken cliffs.
Snow leopards are rarely sighted because of their remote habitat and shy and elusive character. Solitary snow leopards (and researchers) use claw scrapes and rakings, feces, and scent sprays to identify snow leopards in an area.
These cats have home ranges of varying size depending on prey density. In Nepal – where prey density is high – snow leopards may inhabit smaller home ranges, whereas in Mongolia, where habitat is marginal, larger home ranges have been documented. Snow leopards are solitary unless mating or raising cubs. Depending on location, they are most active at dawn and dusk or at night. They are opportunistic feeders, but prey mostly on wild goats and sheep (including ibex (Capra siberica) and blue sheep (Pseudios nayaur). They also feed on small prey items such as marmots, hares and birds, and may take livestock if they are encountered in their range.
Sexual maturity is reached at two to three years. Mating occurs between early January and mid-March. Male vocalizations can be heard at this time. One to five (usually two or three) cubs are born 98 to 104 days later, in May or June. Cubs remain with their mother until they are 18 – 22 months old. Littermates may remain together briefly after they disperse from where they were born.
A cursory 1992 world estimate for snow leopards was 4,510 to 7,350. The population is continuing to decline and is close to being extirpated in parts of Inner Mongolia. Populations are increasing in conservation areas and preserves in Pakistan, Nepal and southern Tibet China.
CLASSIFICATION:
Scientific Name: Uncia uncia
Class: Mammalia
Sub Class:
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae (Subfamily: Pantherinae)
Genus: Uncia
Species: uncia
Physical Description
The snow leopard has long, whitish or smoky-gray fur with dark, open markings or spots. This coat color and pattern effectively camouflages the snow leopard against rocks and snow, making it almost invisible. The snow leopard is a medium-sized cat measuring 1 – 1.3 meters (3.3 – 4.3 feet). Adult females weigh 35 – 40 kilograms (77 – 88 pounds). Males weigh 45 – 55 kilograms (100 – 120 pounds), although some animals reach 75 kilograms (165 pounds).
Snow leopards have large paws for walking on snow, a dense, wooly under-fur, and a thick, long tail (about 75%-90% of the body length) which can be wrapped around the face and body to help keep them warm in the mountains.
Natural History
The snow leopard inhabits remote alpine and sub-alpine zones in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Bhutan, China, India, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan and Russia.
The snow leopard is currently fragmented in its distribution, which consists of long, narrow mountain systems and scattered island habitat. It prefers steep, dry, rocky terrain with cliffs and rocky outcrops between 3,000 and 4,500 meters (9,800-14,800 feet) high. It may go higher or lower in different parts of its range. It is an excellent climber and prefers traveling along major ridgelines, gullies and broken cliffs.
Snow leopards are rarely sighted because of their remote habitat and shy and elusive character. Solitary snow leopards (and researchers) use claw scrapes and rakings, feces, and scent sprays to identify snow leopards in an area.
These cats have home ranges of varying size depending on prey density. In Nepal – where prey density is high – snow leopards may inhabit smaller home ranges, whereas in Mongolia, where habitat is marginal, larger home ranges have been documented. Snow leopards are solitary unless mating or raising cubs. Depending on location, they are most active at dawn and dusk or at night. They are opportunistic feeders, but prey mostly on wild goats and sheep (including ibex (Capra siberica) and blue sheep (Pseudios nayaur). They also feed on small prey items such as marmots, hares and birds, and may take livestock if they are encountered in their range.
Sexual maturity is reached at two to three years. Mating occurs between early January and mid-March. Male vocalizations can be heard at this time. One to five (usually two or three) cubs are born 98 to 104 days later, in May or June. Cubs remain with their mother until they are 18 – 22 months old. Littermates may remain together briefly after they disperse from where they were born.
A cursory 1992 world estimate for snow leopards was 4,510 to 7,350. The population is continuing to decline and is close to being extirpated in parts of Inner Mongolia. Populations are increasing in conservation areas and preserves in Pakistan, Nepal and southern Tibet China.
STATUS OF THE SPECIES
The snow leopard is listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and listed as Endangered on the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). This species is also listed on Appendix I of the Convention on the Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Threats to the Species
The snow leopard was hunted for fur and as a trophy and was already rare by 1970. Today, the snow leopard is threatened by illegal hunting for fur, as well as for body parts and bones for traditional medicine. They are threatened by loss and fragmentation of habitat due to the encroachment of humans and livestock, loss or displacement of prey (including the effects of large-scale marmot and pika poisoning programs), and lack of adequate protection. Snow leopards are also killed for preying on livestock.
DESCRIPTION AND NATURAL HISTORY
Physical Description
The snow leopard has long, whitish or smoky-gray fur with dark, open markings or spots. This coat color and pattern effectively camouflages the snow leopard against rocks and snow, making it almost invisible. The snow leopard is a medium-sized cat measuring 1 – 1.3 meters (3.3 – 4.3 feet). Adult females weigh 35 – 40 kilograms (77 – 88 pounds). Males weigh 45 – 55 kilograms (100 – 120 pounds), although some animals reach 75 kilograms (165 pounds).
Snow leopards have large paws for walking on snow, a dense, wooly under-fur, and a thick, long tail (about 75%-90% of the body length) which can be wrapped around the face and body to help keep them warm in the mountains.
Natural History
The snow leopard inhabits remote alpine and sub-alpine zones in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Bhutan, China, India, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan and Russia.
The snow leopard is currently fragmented in its distribution, which consists of long, narrow mountain systems and scattered island habitat. It prefers steep, dry, rocky terrain with cliffs and rocky outcrops between 3,000 and 4,500 meters (9,800-14,800 feet) high. It may go higher or lower in different parts of its range. It is an excellent climber and prefers traveling along major ridgelines, gullies and broken cliffs.
Snow leopards are rarely sighted because of their remote habitat and shy and elusive character. Solitary snow leopards (and researchers) use claw scrapes and rakings, feces, and scent sprays to identify snow leopards in an area.
These cats have home ranges of varying size depending on prey density. In Nepal – where prey density is high – snow leopards may inhabit smaller home ranges, whereas in Mongolia, where habitat is marginal, larger home ranges have been documented. Snow leopards are solitary unless mating or raising cubs. Depending on location, they are most active at dawn and dusk or at night. They are opportunistic feeders, but prey mostly on wild goats and sheep (including ibex (Capra siberica) and blue sheep (Pseudios nayaur). They also feed on small prey items such as marmots, hares and birds, and may take livestock if they are encountered in their range.
Sexual maturity is reached at two to three years. Mating occurs between early January and mid-March. Male vocalizations can be heard at this time. One to five (usually two or three) cubs are born 98 to 104 days later, in May or June. Cubs remain with their mother until they are 18 – 22 months old. Littermates may remain together briefly after they disperse from where they were born.
A cursory 1992 world estimate for snow leopards was 4,510 to 7,350. The population is continuing to decline and is close to being extirpated in parts of Inner Mongolia. Populations are increasing in conservation areas and preserves in Pakistan, Nepal and southern Tibet China.
CLASSIFICATION:
Scientific Name: Uncia uncia
Class: Mammalia
Sub Class:
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae (Subfamily: Pantherinae)
Genus: Uncia
Species: uncia
Physical Description
The snow leopard has long, whitish or smoky-gray fur with dark, open markings or spots. This coat color and pattern effectively camouflages the snow leopard against rocks and snow, making it almost invisible. The snow leopard is a medium-sized cat measuring 1 – 1.3 meters (3.3 – 4.3 feet). Adult females weigh 35 – 40 kilograms (77 – 88 pounds). Males weigh 45 – 55 kilograms (100 – 120 pounds), although some animals reach 75 kilograms (165 pounds).
Snow leopards have large paws for walking on snow, a dense, wooly under-fur, and a thick, long tail (about 75%-90% of the body length) which can be wrapped around the face and body to help keep them warm in the mountains.
Natural History
The snow leopard inhabits remote alpine and sub-alpine zones in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Bhutan, China, India, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan and Russia.
The snow leopard is currently fragmented in its distribution, which consists of long, narrow mountain systems and scattered island habitat. It prefers steep, dry, rocky terrain with cliffs and rocky outcrops between 3,000 and 4,500 meters (9,800-14,800 feet) high. It may go higher or lower in different parts of its range. It is an excellent climber and prefers traveling along major ridgelines, gullies and broken cliffs.
Snow leopards are rarely sighted because of their remote habitat and shy and elusive character. Solitary snow leopards (and researchers) use claw scrapes and rakings, feces, and scent sprays to identify snow leopards in an area.
These cats have home ranges of varying size depending on prey density. In Nepal – where prey density is high – snow leopards may inhabit smaller home ranges, whereas in Mongolia, where habitat is marginal, larger home ranges have been documented. Snow leopards are solitary unless mating or raising cubs. Depending on location, they are most active at dawn and dusk or at night. They are opportunistic feeders, but prey mostly on wild goats and sheep (including ibex (Capra siberica) and blue sheep (Pseudios nayaur). They also feed on small prey items such as marmots, hares and birds, and may take livestock if they are encountered in their range.
Sexual maturity is reached at two to three years. Mating occurs between early January and mid-March. Male vocalizations can be heard at this time. One to five (usually two or three) cubs are born 98 to 104 days later, in May or June. Cubs remain with their mother until they are 18 – 22 months old. Littermates may remain together briefly after they disperse from where they were born.
A cursory 1992 world estimate for snow leopards was 4,510 to 7,350. The population is continuing to decline and is close to being extirpated in parts of Inner Mongolia. Populations are increasing in conservation areas and preserves in Pakistan, Nepal and southern Tibet China.
STATUS OF THE SPECIES
The snow leopard is listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and listed as Endangered on the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). This species is also listed on Appendix I of the Convention on the Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Threats to the Species
The snow leopard was hunted for fur and as a trophy and was already rare by 1970. Today, the snow leopard is threatened by illegal hunting for fur, as well as for body parts and bones for traditional medicine. They are threatened by loss and fragmentation of habitat due to the encroachment of humans and livestock, loss or displacement of prey (including the effects of large-scale marmot and pika poisoning programs), and lack of adequate protection. Snow leopards are also killed for preying on livestock.
