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