Snow Leopard

The animal whose sighting is the ultimate dream of every wildlife fanatic, is unfortunately being hunted almost to extinction by it's fur hungry human enemies.

The elusive snow leopard has evolved perfectly for it's habitat, which also happens to be some of the most scenic mountainscapes on the planet

This beautiful animal lives among the coniferous forests in the mountainous regions of Asia, ranging from 1800m to 5500m above mean sea level. It is light grey in colour with dark grey or black rosettes. This colour lightens during the winter months. Underneath these shades of grey, it is completely white. A band also runs down it's back, which is of a darker shade. Snow leopards have large eyes and ears that detect the slightest of movement or sound.

The eyes have excellent night vision qualities and the shape of the ears directs sound towards the drums. Although the paws of the snow leopard are heavily padded to distribute it's weight more evenly over the snow, they possess sharp claws for excellent grip. These are useful while walking as well as while gripping fleeing prey.

The Snow leopard has an average lifespan of around 15 years, during which they roam across large territories that can range up to 80 - 100 square kilometers. They can weigh up to 70 kgs, which is distributed over their muscular bodies that measure between 120cm - 150cm from head to hind quarters. If measured from head to the tip of the tail, they can measure between 215cm - 250cm. The females have a gestation period ranging from 98 - 103 days and give birth to litters that can number from one to four cubs. These cubs, which have darker coats than adult snow leopards and open their large round eyes after 7 - 9 days, are given birth in excellently concealed hideouts that are lined for warmth by the mother with her own fur. These cubs stay with the mother through the first winter, all of which are severe in these areas. There are no records to indicate any involvement of the father in the bringing up of the cubs, as is being discovered in the case of other big cats.

Snow leopards are elusive and mainly nocturnal in behaviour. They are also solitary animals that roam their large territories in search of prey that includes Ibex, Markhor, Wild Boar, Birds, Marmots, Wild sheep, Gazelle, Tahr, Wild Goats and Hare. They do however form hunting teams of two when they pair up with a partner during the mating season from January to May. The snow leopard's progress around it's territory is mainly governed by the movement of these prey species, which migrate from one area to the other depending on factors such as weather. It attacks it's prey by stalking it to within a distance of one leap. Their one leap however can measure huge distances measuring up to 15 meters. They rip open the hide of the prey with their sharp teeth and, due to not possessing molars, are aided in their digesting process by specially evolved tongues.

One unique characteristic of the Snow Leopard is that it is a big cat that does not roar and eats it's food in a posture similar to that of a small house cat instead of that of it's larger cousins.