Snow Leopard 
Snow Leopard
Snow Leopard
More images:
Scientific Name:
Uncia uncia
Other Names and/or Listed subspecies:
Ounce, Panthera uncia
Group:
Mammals
Status/Date Listed as Endangered:
EN-US FWS: March 28, 1972
EN-IUCN: 2008
Area(s) Where Listed As Endangered:
Central Asia, Middle East
 
Advertisement
 

The snow leopard is found in the mountain ranges of Central Asia stretching from northwestern China to Tibet and the Himalayas. Adults can grow up to four feet in length and can weigh from 60 to 120 lbs. The fur of the snow leopard is spotted and varies in color from white or cream to pale yellow or gray. Its tail is thickly furred and can grow as long as the leopards body. Snow leopards are muscular and agile enabling them to leap up to 50 feet horizontally and 20 feet vertically.

The snow leopard prefers mountain steppes and coniferous forest scrub as its habitat at altitudes from 2000 to 6000 meters. In the summer, snow leopards travel to alpine meadows and rocky areas, and in the winter they travel to lower forest area to find prey. Diet consists of boars, arkhar, markhor, bharal, ibex, marmots, and other small rodents. Snow leopards appear to be solitary creatures, except during the breeding season. Mating occurs in late winter and early spring. The female gives birth to two or three cubs after a gestation period of 100 days.

Snow leopards were once heavily hunted for their pelts which sold for a very high price in the fur market. Also, their bones and other body parts are valued in traditional Asian medicine. Loss of habitat, persecution, and competition with humans for prey also threaten the species. Snow leopards do well in captivity, and conservation efforts have helped some, bringing the current population to 6000 (up from 1000 in the 1960s).




Wikipedia Article

This article is only an excerpt. If it appears incomplete or if you wish to see article references, visit the rest of its contents here.
Wikipedia Article
Copyright Notice: This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Snow leopard".
More Links about the Snow Leopard:

Conservation Links:
Snow Leopard Trust


Featured Article

Orphaned cougar cubs progressing well at Toledo Zoo
Back in October, the Toledo zoo received new additions to their creature family... two orphaned cougar cubs, rescued from Washington state when they were 3 weeks old.

Read More...


Advertisement


Endangered Species of Our Planet

Donate, Adopt, Get Involved

EEC Conservation Directory
Donate

Mailing List

Would you like to receive a notice and link when the new Creature Feature is posted?

Enter your e-mail address below:

 

Fun & Games

Are you inspired by endangered animals? Check out our games and coloring pages! More to come soon.
color endangered creatures
play hangman