Snow Leopard
The beautiful, black spotted, silver-grey snow leopard is one of earth's most endangered wild cats. Its population, which once ruled the mountains and valleys of Northern Pakistan, Tibet, India, Nepal up to the Southern borders of Siberia, is rapidly declining. One of the main reasons for the decline is local farmers hunting and killing snow leopards in retaliation against their preying on domestic livestock.
Found at high elevations of 9,800 to 14,800 feet, and even higher in the Himalayas. There is approximately only 3,500 - 7,000 left in the wild scattered over 12 countries in Central Asia. With between 600-700 in zoos around the world.
Found at high elevations of 9,800 to 14,800 feet, and even higher in the Himalayas. There is approximately only 3,500 - 7,000 left in the wild scattered over 12 countries in Central Asia. With between 600-700 in zoos around the world.
A Marvel of Nature's Perfection . . .
IT's probably the toughest and bravest cat in the wild. Lives, grows up and plays on the toughest edges of Himalayas. Brave and fearless in the sense that it hunts running 100s of feet down the cliffs to catch her pray, unlike any other animal in the wild.
Mystical and spiritual in the sense that it lives in caves hundreds-thousands of feet above ground and spends much of her life in solitude. Comes out the cave when it requires food and aspires for no territorial domination-rather it dominates mountains without a fight. Its a curious traveler that aspires peace and adventure in life.
Mystical and spiritual in the sense that it lives in caves hundreds-thousands of feet above ground and spends much of her life in solitude. Comes out the cave when it requires food and aspires for no territorial domination-rather it dominates mountains without a fight. Its a curious traveler that aspires peace and adventure in life.
Habitat
The Snow Leopards range extends through 12 countries: Uzbekistan, Nepal, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Tibet, Afghanistan, Mongolia and Bhutan. The Largest estimated population of Snow Leopards is in China, 2,000-5,000, with the least being in Uzbekistan. The Snow Leopard usually lives above the tree lines in rocky regions, altitude of up to 6,000m, in a well defined home range. As summer gives way to winter, the snow leopard will follow its migrating prey down below the tree line to the lowland forests that cover much of its habitat - however the cat is rarely associated with dense forestation.
Physical Appearance
In appearance, the snow leopard is strikingly different from the common leopard. Although it has similar rosettes and broken-spot markings, they appear less well defined and are spaced further apart. The fur is long and woolly and helps protect the cat from the extreme cold of its generally mountainous habitat. The general ground coloration of the cat is predominantly grey with brownish/yellow tinges on its flanks and lighter, often white fur on its belly, chest and chin. The head, which sports small ears and a distinctive heavy brow, is rounded and comparatively small for its body size, which can be up to 1.3 meters length and weigh up to around 70kg. The long tail, which can measure as much as 900cm, helps the cat balance as it moves over rugged and often snowy terrain. The powerful limbs of the snow leopard are relatively short for its body size and are supported by large, powerful paws. Built for the Kill
Generally crepuscular in its hunting activities, the snow leopards main prey is that of wild sheep such as Bharal (Blue Sheep) and Argali, goats, including Markhor and Ibex. Other prey taken includes Musk Deer, marmots, various species of hare and birds. The cat often uses the natural protection of the terrain to stalk its prey, keeping low below the skyline and pouncing down onto its victim. Commonly the animal is a solitary hunter but may share the task with its mate during its breeding season. It has been know that one animal will stalk the prey while the other lies in wait to make the kill. With larger prey, it is common that the snow leopard will remain close to its kill and return over a period of three to four days to feed. This well built, muscular cat can bring down prey more than two to three times its size, as is the case with the native Yak. However, unlike its distant neighbours the Tiger and Leopard, the snow leopard is generally not aggressive toward man. Where human habitation does come close to the range of the snow leopard, it is common, during the harsh winter months for the cat to take domestic livestock. Some conservation organisations are now working with local inhabitants to help educate in the need for conservation management and to supply financial reparation for the loss of domestic stock.
Mating and Life cycle
Due to the often-harsh weather conditions that prevail, cubs are always born in the spring, with mating taking place some three months earlier in late winter. This ensures that a food source is abundant and less effort is needed to secure a kill. The litter size is usually between 1-4 (typically two) cubs and they are born after a gestation period of approximately 98 days. The cubs weigh between 320-708g at birth - have a daily average weight gain of approximately 48g per day and stay with their mothers until they are over 18 months old. This Awesome Cat symbolizes . . .
- Sensitivity to Touch
- Stalking
- Approaching Someone Unseen
- Movement in Shadow Worlds
- Communication with Plant Kingdom
- Understanding One's Shadow Side
- Trusting One's Inner Self
- Agility
- Strength
- Stalking
- Approaching Someone Unseen
- Movement in Shadow Worlds
- Communication with Plant Kingdom
- Understanding One's Shadow Side
- Trusting One's Inner Self
- Agility
- Strength
Truely a Nature's gift to Pakistan . . .
In Pakistan the Snow Leopard (uncia uncia) is found in the high mountains of the Karakoram and the Hindukush. There are mainly found in Baltistan, Chitral, Gilgit, Upper Swat Valley, the Slopes of Nanga Parbat, Khunjerab National Park and the Chitral Gol National Park. The total population of the snow leopards in Pakistan is 200-450.The mountains of the Karakoram, can be called the home land of the great snow leopard. Pakistan is blessed with wild life and snow leopard is no exception.
I never knew such beautiful animal existed in Pakistan. This leopard is truly a gift and treasure to Pakistan. We should must preserve the species. These leopards are even shown in some famous movies (with a mention of Pakistan). e.g. Vertical Limits. During August 2006, Pakistan donated an orphaned snow leopard cub called Leo to the Bronx Zoo in the United States.
The photo which is displayed on your right is of 'Leo'.
Threats to Snow Leopards
Challenges that put Pakistan's cats at risk
- Habitat degradation and fragmentation:
Mining, logging, and industrial development degrade and fragment snow leopard habitat. The cats are pushed into less suitable areas, where the climate may be harsher, prey scarcer, or conflicts with humans more likely to occur. All of these factors make it more difficult for the cats to survive.
- Reduction of natural prey due to illegal hunting:
As a growing human population pushes further into remote areas, people sometimes hunt for food the wild sheep and goats that are the snow leopard's primary prey. Illegal trophy hunting for these animals' prized horns can also be a lucrative source of extra income for people in remote and often economically underdeveloped areas. As wild sheep and goat populations decline, snow leopards go hungry.
- Killing of snow leopards in retribution for livestock depredation:
When their wild prey is scarce, snow leopards sometimes turn to domestic livestock for food. Herders, who lead a precarious economic existence with most of their family wealth bound up in their herds, may kill snow leopards in retaliation.
- Habitat degradation and fragmentation:
Mining, logging, and industrial development degrade and fragment snow leopard habitat. The cats are pushed into less suitable areas, where the climate may be harsher, prey scarcer, or conflicts with humans more likely to occur. All of these factors make it more difficult for the cats to survive.
- Reduction of natural prey due to illegal hunting:
As a growing human population pushes further into remote areas, people sometimes hunt for food the wild sheep and goats that are the snow leopard's primary prey. Illegal trophy hunting for these animals' prized horns can also be a lucrative source of extra income for people in remote and often economically underdeveloped areas. As wild sheep and goat populations decline, snow leopards go hungry.
- Killing of snow leopards in retribution for livestock depredation:
When their wild prey is scarce, snow leopards sometimes turn to domestic livestock for food. Herders, who lead a precarious economic existence with most of their family wealth bound up in their herds, may kill snow leopards in retaliation.
Why are snow leapords in the endangered red list?
- Its fur is coveted as a beautiful pelt by fur lovers and a large, lucrative black market for its fur trade exists.- It is hunted for its bones, which are commonly used in many traditional Chinese medicines.
- Overgrazing of domestic animals in some areas has depleted natural prey
- Many of its larger prey species in the food chain have declined.
- Though it is illegal to hunt them, but the law is difficult to enforce in remote areas where snow leopards are most common.
- With limited budgets, it is difficult for rangers to patrol such rugged habitats
- Getting killed by angry villagers whose livestock becomes their prey. A leopard will enter a livestock pen at night and kill even up to even 100 animals with its repeated hunting instinct
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