The snow leopard is one of the most mysterious animals in the world. He moves through the mountains or taiga in search of prey. This is a secretive and cautious beast, a symbol of valor, courage and strength. His image served as a magical charm guarding the ancient warriors. Hunting for a snow leopard is a cynical creation of the twentieth century.
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Features and habitat of the snow leopard
Irbis are found in Central Asian countries; their habitat includes the highest mountain ranges in the world.
The range covers Mongolian, Chinese, Pakistani, Russian lands, Nepal, India and other territories. In Russia, in the south of Siberia, there is the northernmost border of the world range of the snow leopard.
Since 2010, the World Wide Fund for Nature has been researching this rare beast here.
Wild mountain goats are the main food of the predator. With the onset of summer, after them the snow leopard rises to high plateaus. And in winter it leaves the mountain peaks and alpine meadows, covered with high snow cover, where the coniferous forest grows.
Snow leopards also attack deer, but less frequently. In the spring, when there is little food, he loves to eat marmots. He tries to avoid encounters with bears, but there is evidence of a successful hunt of two snow leopards for this beast.
The food competitor of the snow leopard can be considered a wolverine, because it often pulls its prey, traveling along the same paths. The snow leopard does not have any natural enemies, so it rarely escapes during danger. This leads to sad consequences when meeting with poachers - they can calmly shoot a hidden predator.
Varieties of snow leopards
Snow leopards are not commonly divided into varieties.Their numbers are too small for this.
There is evidence that the coat color of the snow leopards inhabiting Southern Transbaikalia contains yellowish and brownish tones that are uncharacteristic of most individuals.
All snow leopards belong to a separate genus Uncia. They are the only representatives of this kind. Genetic examination showed the relationship of snow leopards with tigers, so they were previously ranked as the Panther genus. However, it was later proved that snow leopards have unique features that distinguish them from other large representatives that are members of the cat family. For example, the snow leopard does not know how to growl, purrs like a domestic cat, lends itself well to training in captivity, never attacks a person.
Description, size, life span
The height of the animal at the withers is about 60 cm; it is squat than its African relatives, panthers, with which it has a similar genotype. The length of the body with the tail exceeds 2 meters, the maximum weight of about 55 kg.
The snow leopard's fur is very beautiful - light smoky, almost white, with dark, ring or solid spots. It is thick and soft, it retains heat well in severe snowy winters. The sides, abdomen and inner surfaces of the limbs are lighter than the back.
The male is larger than the female.
General Scripture:
- convex skull;
- rounded head;
- there is a hyoid bone;
- eyes almond-shaped, small, set wide;
- 30 teeth, like most cats;
- small rounded ears without tassels; in winter, due to the long fur, they are almost invisible;
- slender limbs and wide powerful legs with retractable claws;
- the long tail, which exceeds three quarters of the length of the body, is covered with thick fur, therefore it seems very thick.
Agile snow leopards are known for their ability to jump long distances - from 6 to 15 meters. During the jump, a long tail helps them, it serves as a “wheel” and an effective counterweight.
Lifestyle & Social Behavior
Irbis are very cautious animals; they go hunting mainly in the early morning or evening. Thanks to light spotted fur, they almost merge with the surrounding rocks, it is very difficult for a person to notice their presence. During the day, snow leopards can rest in crevices of rocks or nests of black vultures.
Irbis prefer a solitary lifestyle. They mark the boundaries of their territory, leaving special marks on rocks and trees.
Sizes of possessions can vary significantly depending on the amount of game suitable for food. So, in the Himalayas, the personal territory of one snow leopard can be 12 km2, and in areas with a small amount of prey, up to 200 km2.
The snow leopard makes circular rounds of its hunting grounds, tasting pastures of wild goats. He prefers to always follow the same routes, choosing the paths that go along the ridge along the water stream. In the same place, the beast can be found at certain intervals of time necessary for him to go through his entire plot.
Breeding and rearing offspring
The breeding season of snow leopards begins in late winter or early spring. After about 3 months, 1 to 5 cubs are born, usually two or three cubs.
The female irbis gives birth once every two years and brings up offspring herself.
For the lair she chooses rock cracks covered with moss, secluded caves. The weight of newborn babies is up to 500 g, their color is brighter than that of adults, black spots lack a bright central part. The eyes of the cubs open on the 6th day after birth. The first 6 weeks, the babies eat their mother’s milk, and after two months they already begin to eat solid food.
At the end of summer, the female goes hunting with her cubs. She brings them up for a rather long time, so you can meet several snow leopards, on the same territory. Her offspring is finally ready for independent existence in the second year after birth.
Are animals listed in the Red Book
People destroy the snow leopard for profit, and soon these beautiful animals can disappear from the face of the Earth forever. Today there are only a few thousand left.
In the 90s of the twentieth century, most snow leopards in Altai lived in an area called the Argut cluster, but by the beginning of the 21st century, snow leopards practically disappeared from these places. Obtaining a snow leopard was a great success for local hunters. For one skin the poacher received an unprecedented fee.
Today, snow leopards are protected by the state. They are listed in the Red Book of IUCN and the Russian Federation.
About 2 thousand individuals live in various zoos of the world and give offspring. Most of the snow leopards are in Chinese zoos, about three dozen live in Russians. However, the Red Book and captive breeding do not guarantee the preservation of the snow leopard population from complete destruction as long as there is demand for fur.
An annual international conference is held to protect the snow leopard in Altai. Representatives of the countries where this spotted predator lives gather to discuss the conservation and research of the snow leopard.
In Russia, researchers install camera traps in places where snow leopards are likely to pass, near stones or rocks that an animal marked on the border of its territory. After collecting data from the camera traps, photos and videos are processed and carefully studied. This allows you to control the number of snow leopards in a certain area.
Interesting facts about the snow leopard
This beast has a unique appearance and cat habits. Domestic cats love to play with their tail. So kittens or adult animals play when they can’t get what they want. The snow leopard has a very long tail, and he often holds it in his teeth, not only for playing. For example, when a mountain stream crosses or wants to warm its pink nose from a fierce winter cold. There are funny snapshots of baby irbis with a tail in their teeth.
In nature, snow leopards live for about 13 years, and in captivity much longer.
There is a known case when a female lived up to 28 years in a zoo.
Despite the prohibition of shooting and fishing, in the wild, snow leopards often die at the hands of poachers.
Scientists claim that there is no archaeological evidence for hunting a snow leopard. Our distant ancestors idolized these animals, they were considered inviolable. The famous mummy of a noble Scythian woman, called the Princess of Ukok, has preserved irbis tattoos on her shoulder. The image of cat predators - tigers, leopards was often found in Scythian culture. Especially a lot of them are found in Altai - in cave paintings, on household items.
In modern numismatics, the image of a snow leopard can be found on commemorative coins. In 2000, Russia issued coins of gold and silver with the image of an snow leopard, in denominations of 25 to 100 rubles.
The snow leopard lives on a high plateau, it is a beautiful and proud beast, it never threatens a person. When meeting without fuss, it is hidden from the eyes of the lucky one, because according to ancient beliefs, a meeting with an irbis brings good luck.
