Tiga, a female snow leopard (Panthera uncia) at the Toronto Zoo, briefly pauses during a light snowfall.

For those who live in snowy areas, I would strongly recommend paying a visit to a local, accredited zoo during the winter months. Many of the animals, such as tigers and snow leopards are much more active, more playful, and more easily spotted than during hot summer days. Even mammals endemic to more tropical areas can sometimes acclimate to colder temperatures. Moreover, there is also the added benefit of avoiding large crowds and supporting zoos when income is scarce. Ultimately, however, winter is a major draw for me for the opportunities to take magical photos of animals like Tiga here so wonderfully in their element.

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Snow leopards are found in mountainous central Asia, also called "the roof of the world". They are acclimated for some of the harshest terrain and climate in the world and are extremely elusive. Sadly, snow leopards are not elusive enough to escape the hand of man. They are an endangered species and there may be as few as 3,000 left in the wild with populations decreasing. Individuals are often the victims of revenge killing after taking village livestock, poaching for their bones and skin, prey depletion and habitat loss.

Please visit http://www.snowleopard.org for more information on snow leopards and how you can help.