Ghost of the Mountains
Ghost of the Mountains
2. Snow leopards are slightly smaller than the other big cats but, like them, exhibit a range of sizes, generally weighing between 27 and 55 kg, with an occasional large male reaching 75 kg and small female under 25 kg. They have a relatively short body, measuring in length from the head to the base of the tail 75 to 130 cm. However, the tail is quite long, at 80 to 100 cm. They are stocky and short-legged big cats, standing about 60 cm at the shoulder. Snow leopards have long thick fur, and their base colour varies from smoky grey to yellowish tan, with whitish under parts.
3. Snow leopards prefer steep, rugged terrains with rocky outcrops and ravines. This type of habitat provides good cover and clear view to help them sneak up on their prey. They are found at high elevations of 3000-6000. meters and even higher in the Himalayas. That's only a couple thousand meters short of climbing Mt. Everest! The snowy peaks act as a camouflage for the animal.
4. Snow leopards have been spotted at heights as much as 6000 meters in summer.
5. The strikingly beautiful snow leopard remains one of the most mysterious cats in the world. This roving, high altitude cat is rarely sighted by local people or scientists. Snow leopards have been found from Afghanistan to Kazakhstan and Russia in the northern part of Asia to countries of India and China in the east.
6. Snow leopards are carnivores and actively hunt their prey. Like many cats, they are also opportunistic feeders, eating whatever meat they can find, including carrion and domestic livestock. Snow leopards will occasionally eat animals three times their size.
7. They eat slowly and remain on the kill for several days, protecting it from scavengers until all meat is consumed.
8. The cubs are blind and helpless at birth, although already with a thick coat of fur, and weigh from 320 to 567 grams. The eyes open at around seven days, and the cubs can walk at five weeks and are fully weaned by 10 weeks. The cubs leave the den at around two to four months of age, but remain with their mother until they become independent after around 18-22 months. Snow leopards become sexually mature at two to three years, and normally live for 15-18 years; although in captivity they can live for up to 21 years.
9. The Snow Leopard has no relation with the leopard-it is closer to a Cheetah.
10. The colours of the eyes of the Snow Leopard are pale green or grey. Unlike most cats Snow leopards have round pupils.
11. Unlike other big cats, snow leopards is incapable of roaring. The sound they make is described as a puff and a blow. It’s a soft and subtle sound snow leopards make to each other. In the wild they use the sound to communicate for mating.
13. The Snow Leopard is able to jump as far as 50 feet (15 meters).
14. The fur on the belly of the snow leopard is about 5 inches thick!
15. One structural adaptation of the snow leopard is its wide feet. This is an important adaptation because their wide feet keep the snow leopard from sinking into the snow. Their feet’s padding protects them from sharp rocks.
16. A second structural adaptation is their thick fur. This is an important adaptation because the long hair and thick undercoat of wooly fur keeps the snow leopard warm.
17. A third structural adaptation is the snow leopards’ off-white fur. This is an important adaptation because their off-white fur helps them blend into the snowy surroundings and hide from hunters. It also helps them stalk prey unseen.
18. A fourth structural adaptation is the snow leopards’ long tails. This is an important adaptation because the snow leopards wrap their tail around their bodies to keep warm, and they also wrap their tails around their faces so their nose doesn’t get frostbite. Their tails are also used to help the snow leopards keep their balance.
Long Bushy Tail
19. A fifth structural adaptation is their large chests and strong lungs. This is an important adaptation because it helps the snow leopard breathe in the thin mountain air. It lets them get the oxygen they need.20. One behavioral adaptation of the snow leopard is that it can quietly sneak up on their prey without being heard. This is an important adaptation because they can catch prey more easily if it doesn’t expect them.
21. A second behavioral adaptation is that the snow leopard lives alone. This is an important adaptation because it will make it harder for hunters to find and kill the snow leopards if they all live in different places.
22. A third behavioral adaptation is the snow leopard wrapping its tail around its face. This is an important adaptation because if a snow leopard wraps its tail around their face, their nose won’t get frostbite.
23. A fourth adaptation is in winter, the snow leopards move down the mountain. This is an important adaptation because they have to follow the other animals down the mountain so they can hunt the animals down and eat them.
24. Snow Leopard is the National Heritage Animal of Pakistan.
25. The snow leopard is the state animal of Himachal Pradesh, a north Indian state in the western Himalayas.
26. Tai Lung, the main antagonist of the 2008 film Kung Fu Panda is a snow leopard.
27. The snow leopards are at home in steep rocky places because it provides good cover and clear views to help them sneak up on their prey.
28. As they move about their home ranges, the cats often travel along ridgelines and cliff bases, and choose bedding sites near cliffs or ridges with good views over the surrounding terrain.
29. Each leopard has its own pattern of spots. It is like a fingerprint. No two patterns are the same.
30. Snow leopards are the least aggressive of all big cats. There are no known attacks by sow leopards on humans.
31. A snow leopard often wraps its tail around its face. This protects its nose from frostbite.
32. These cats can live for about twenty-one years in zoos. No one is sure how long they can live in the wild.
33. The genus name of the large cat is Panthera uncia
34. The closest living relative of the snow leopard is the tiger (Panthera tigris)
35. The leopards evolutionary adaption's allow them to survive in altitudes above four to five thousand meters above sea level.
36. Their niche is extremely harsh and unforgiving.
37. Snow Leopards are incredibly strong and agile.
Comments
Post a Comment