Snow Leopard

Yes, you are right! This is the species which we saw in movie "vertical limit", lead actor taking snap of it. You might also have this words on frequent basis for product of Apple. Its now time to get the details and threats to this animal in future. Snow Leopard is the toughest hunter on the highest level from sea level. Its gift from nature to us and the question is, will our children or grand children going to see this cat alive in front of there eyes or will make study of it as thesis from any renown library as subject of history???

Friends, let me introduce this Cat to you all.

An expert at navigating the steep and rocky apline regions of Central Asia, the snow leopard is recognisable by its long tail and almost-white coat, spotted with large black rosettes. There are up to 6,000 snow leopards in the wild across 12 countries, but its numbers are gradually declining, with hunting and habitat loss just some of the reasons that it is endangered.

Snow leopard is a relative species to more widely seen Leopard (Panthera pardus). It is in the same size range as leopard.

Snow leopards are highly adapted to their natural habitat of cold high mountains. With their whitish-, yellowish- or smokey-grey fur, patterned with dark grey rosettes and spots, they can perfectly camouflage against the mountainous rocky terrain.

The fur has long hair with dense, woolly underfur to protect them against the cold enviornment. Snow leopards molt twice a year, but the summer coat differs little from the winter in density and length.

Snow leopards have long tails, upto 1 m in length, that helps in keeping balance and as an additional protection against the cold to wrap around the body when the snow leopard is resting.

Size

Head-body length: 90 - 130 cm
Adult shoulder height: about 60 cm
Tail length: 80 - 100 cm
Female weight: 35-40 kg
Male weight: 45 - 55 kg

What do snow leopards eat?

Snow leopards typically prey on blue sheep, Argali wild sheep, Siberian ibex, Asiatic ibex, marmots, pikas, hares, Tibetan snowcock and chukor partridge. Their sole predator is humans.

What are the main threats to the snow leopard?

Human conflict is a key factor affecting the survival of the snow leopard. Snow leopards are often killed by local farmers because they prey on livestock such as sheep, goats, horses, and yak calves. In some areas domestic animals can make up to 58% of the snow leopard's diet.

The reason for the snow leopard's increased reliance on domestic animals for meat is due to the decline in their natural prey base. The animals they would typically hunt such as the Argali sheep are also hunted by local comunitites.

Much of the population decline is also attributed to hunting for the much coveted fur and for bones which are used in Chinese medicines.

The habitat of the snow leopard continues to decline as inreased grazing and human settlements fragment the historic range of the species.

source: WWF

Protected areas:

* Chitral National Park, in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
* Hemis National Park, in east Ladakh, India.
* Khunjerab National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.
* Nanda Devi National Park, in state of Uttarakhand, India, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site.[18]
* Qomolangma National Nature Preserve, Tibet, China.[19]
* Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site.[20]
* Tumor Feng Nature Reserve, western Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, China.[21]
* Valley of Flowers National Park, Uttaranchal, India, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site.
* Shey-Phoksundo National Park, Dolpa, Nepal.
* Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Baglung, Nepal.
* Annapurna Conservation Area, Western Nepal.
* Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan
* Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, Mongolia
* Ubsunur Hollow, on the territorial border of Mongolia and the Republic of Tuva, Russia
* Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, near Anini, India

Celebrating "Earth Hour" ??? Which Hour ???!!!

Hello Friends,

Yesterday on anonymous FM channel I came across term "EARTH HOUR" on 27th March 8:30pm to 9:30pm. Well I really appreciate such efforts by any of who is in support. My ambiguity is that we all have become such calculative mind to dedicate 60 minutes in a year to our only home Earth??? If this is the beginning to give a thought to Save Earth, then we are in need to take a supersonic pick up before it gets too late.

See the thing is, Where you will contribute to this hour? I suggest to switch your thinking to an hour every day for dedication to earth. This may take your entire schedule towards environmental oriented and you may get a degree of satisfaction, which is not there in your routine work.

Air, Water and Plastic Pollutions are the major matters to concern. Please avoid meaningless plastic use. Switch off your Vehicles when you have Idle time to do with it. Avoid waste of water and support projects of non-polluting water plant, so that water to be released in river from industry is pollution free.

Youngster's contributions are highly expected and is in demand for this kind of self owned noble project. Each of Youth must have adopted one environment oriented plant, and take responsibility to nourish it at his/her own convenience. Humans are permanently suffered from making a habit, and from this, to a habituate. So this will help us to make a habit and which will crate next genes an environmental oriented.

If one alone, can't save a forest then at-least help one tree to grow the most. - Quote inspired from saying of Mother Teresa


On this page you will get link to other environmental solutions in routine life and also few of related blogs. So you can come across the solutions on your own.

Remember we are not alone on this planet but this planet is a one of a kind for us as a home. Save it.

Where the Sparrows have gone !!!???

Friends,

Do you remember when you last saw that tiny and sweet sound making sparrow on your window grill or in your ultra luxurious compound????? I know ... u don't remember it.!! I am sure you had a habit to put some cooked rice and a pot for those sweet birds during your childhood times in summer vacations. Now a days we have lost those values in busy schedules and stressful life. It seems that we have forgotten our duties and values towards nature and a kind of society members like this birds who never made any harm to our lifestyle and always given a pleasant company.


Warning to us all is this sparrows are getting disappeared due to many or reasons and flows created by us humans. Biggest contributors to this event are our telecom towers which has harmful rays enough to destroy them. Trees are getting disappear to give them shelters. People got busy in their AC rooms and office not to think about birds outside their artificial environment.

Yes my friends, Our children are surely not going to see this sweet member of our society in future if things are not taken to atleast some control.

So please, Put up a water pot and cardboard made house in the corner to make them shelter. Because trees are not out there... so they depend on our cardboard made house to take shelter. Or else to see this birds... you will definitely have to depend on encyclopedia of lost creatures.

So, take pity on the lowly sparrow. They really can’t hurt us.

Give your Best attempt.
Best of Luck.