Snow Leopard Long Jump

[Alice Palecek]

Thesnow leopard's main prey in Nepal - blue sheep - will provide one snow leopard with food for a week. Besides blue sheep, snow leopards feed on the ibex, Himalayan tahr, marmot, pika, hares, small rodents and game birds.

Snow leopards live in high-altitude mountainous terrain, usually at elevations of 3,000-4,500m. They prefer steep, broken landscapes such as cliffs, rocky outcrops and ravines. Snow leopards have short forelimbs and long hind legs, which allow them to traverse and stay agile in their steep and rugged environments.

Snow leopards are really well camouflaged! Their long fur and less distinctive markings that seem to change shape with body movement make identifying individual snow leopards difficult compared to other big cats like tigers, leopards and jaguars, which have more distinctive markings.

There could be as few as 4,000 leopards in the wild, however the exact number is unknown as they are extremely elusive. The main threats they face are habitat loss and deterioration, human-wildlife conflict, loss of prey, poaching for the illegal trade, and climate change. As a result, snow leopards really need our help, WWF is working alongside communities, Governments and other organisations to address some of the threats snow leopards face.

Snow leopards are masters of camouflage. Their spotted coats turn off-white in winter to match the snow. In summer the fur changes to a yellowish gray so the cats can blend in almost completely with the surrounding mountains and blooming plants.

Snow leopards are big cats known for their beautiful silver, white and black fur and green eyes. They have a powerful jaw and thick fur that protects them from the cold. They have short stocky limbs for climbing and extra-large paws that act like snowshoes. They have a long thick furry tail which they use as a scarf to keep their heads warm in the cold mountainous climates they live in.

Snow leopards live in the mountains of Central Asia in countries such as Nepal, Pakistan, China, India, Russia and Mongolia, among others. In the Himalayas, snow leopards are usually found between 3,000 and 5,400 m above sea level. In Mongolia and Russia, they are found at lower altitudes.

Snow leopards are carnivores (meat-eaters). Their main sources of food are the blue sheep (also known as bharal), the Asiatic ibex (a large wild goat), and the argali, a wild mountain sheep. They hunt a large animal approximately every 8-10 days.

The snow leopard leads a solitary life, only coming together with others to mate. During this time, the male and female will stay together for a few days. The female will give birth in a sheltered den site and raises the cubs on her own. By 2 years old, the cubs become independent of their mother.

In 2009, Dublin Zoo began working with the Snow Leopard Trust. The Snow Leopard Trust was founded in 1981 and is now the leading authority on the study and protection of snow leopards. Their conservation philosophy is based on sound science and research coupled with building community partnerships.

Snow leopards are well-adapted to high-elevated, cold climates. They have an extra-large nasal cavity, which warms the air they breathe. Their large paws have fur-covered foot pads that act like built-in "snowshoes." Their long body hair has an underlayer of dense fur that can be up to five inches thick. This plush, warm gray, white and black coat is colored to blend in with the snowy, rocky surroundings. They have a well-developed chest, short forelimbs, and a three-foot-long tail that helps them keep their balance. They are able to leap 50 feet horizontally and jump 20 feet vertically.

Snow leopards are solitary animals with the exception of females caring for offspring or males pairing up with females for mating season. They mate from January to March. A female gives birth in spring or early summer after a pregnancy of about 100 days. The kittens are born in a rocky shelter, which the mother lines with her fur for warmth. The litter can include as many as five babies, but the average is two or three. Cubs are very active by three months, but they may stay with their mom for one-and-a-half to almost two years.

The Zoo supports two snow leopards in Big Cat Country. The Saint Louis Zoo also participates in the Species Survival Plan for snow leopards. This is a cooperative breeding program, with a number of zoos working together to ensure the survival of the species. Learn more about how we are helping wildlife around the world.

Living at the top of the world: Legendary snow leopards are rarely seen in their native habitat, as they live high in the mountains of Central Asia. Although the cats freely cross the international boundaries of 12 countries, their secretive behavior and remote habitat among the highest mountains in the world add to their mystery. Because of their shy behavior and uncanny, almost mystical ability to disappear among the rocks, snow leopards have entered the folklore of local peoples in many countries and have been described as shape-changing mountain spirits.

Snow leopards are almost impossible to locate and study in their native habitat, because they blend in with their surroundings so well. Add the extreme conditions of cold and steep terrain, often beyond the limits of human endurance, and it is extremely difficult to radio tag snow leopards for conservation research.

A unique cat in an extreme habitat: So how do snow leopards live at high altitudes? They keep mainly to cliffs and rocky slopes, below the permanent snow line. Snow leopards have a relatively small head with a short, broad nose that has a large nasal cavity that passes cold air through and warms it. Their huge paws have fur on the bottom that protects and cushions their feet for walking, climbing, and jumping. The wide, furry paws also give the cat great traction on snow.

Short, well-developed front legs and chest muscles help with balance when climbing. The snow leopard's incredibly long, thick, and beautiful tail also helps with balance and is sometimes as long as the cat's body!

Most active at dawn and dusk, snow leopards are powerful predators capable of killing prey two to three times their own weight. Recent radio-tracking data shows they bring down prey every 10 to 15 days. Blue sheep and ibex are their main food, along with marmots, game birds, small rodents, and livestock. Snow leopards stalk their prey, then spring and grab onto it.

Problems arise in the winter, when marmots are hibernating and snow leopards turn to livestock for food. This brings them into conflict with herders and farmers. And as marmots are hunted for their pelts and meat or killed as pests by farmers, snow leopards must hunt livestock more often. This creates the cycle that puts snow leopards in direct competition with people.

Living in such rocky terrain, it isn't easy for snow leopards to find one another. Typically solitary and nomadic, the cats advertise their presence by leaving distinct signals along their travel routes, scent marking and claw raking on boulders and tree trunks. Sometimes they deposit urine and/or feces samples in scraped soil depressions as messages. Even cheek rubbing can spread scent, so all of these smell "advertisements" can remain for days and weeks to mark off ranges.

Like other larger cats, snow leopards hiss, growl, moan, and yowl, but they do not roar, as their throat is similar to that of the smaller cats; instead, snow leopards make a friendly chuff and can purr, too.

When breeding season arrives, January through late March, snow leopards send vocal messages to pair up. After breeding, the male goes off, and the female is responsible for finding a safe place to have and rear her cubs, most likely a nest among the rocks (only recently, through the use of GPS technology, has a den with cubs been located). Usually two or three cubs are born to a litter in June or July. The cubs are much darker than their mother, and their eyes open when they are about seven days old.

By two months old, they can run and eat solid food. At three months of age, the youngsters are ready to learn how to hunt for that food. Youngsters usually leave the mother at 18 to 22 months, reaching sexual maturity at 2 to 3 years of age.

No one knows for sure how many snow leopards remain in their native habitat, due to their elusive nature and challenging (for humans!) habitat, but it is estimated that there are no more than 4,000 to 6,500 of the ghost cats over their entire range. Historically, habitat remoteness served to protect snow leopards from humans, particularly conflicts with herders and farmers. Indeed, there are no known snow leopard attacks on humans, as the cats would rather run away than fight. But with human encroachment into the high mountain ranges comes competition for living space and food.

Cooperation between governments, conservation agencies, and the general public is essential. If the farmer and herder's quality of life can be improved through better management of grazing lands, payment for livestock preyed upon by the cats, and more health care and education services, then we have a chance to protect snow leopards and other wildlife in the region.

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