The Snow Leopard (Pantherinae uncia) has a beautiful
soft grey coat with black ringed spots. The combination of short
front legs, long powerful hind legs and a thick bushy tail, a metre
long, provide the Snow Leopard with the perfect athleticism to
navigate steep rocks and ridges. The Snow Leopard weighs between
35-55 kg and is about 8 times the size of a domestic
cat.
Population
It is estimated that there could be as few as 3,500 Snow Leopards
living in the wild. Snow Leopards live at altitude in the mountain
ranges of Central Asia and populations exist in: Afghanistan,
Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Krygyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal,
Pakistan, Tajikistan and Ubekistan.
Behaviour
Snow Leopards are solitary animals and only come together during
the breeding season, January to March. The female will give birth
to 2 or 3 cubs 100 days later and rear her cubs in dens in rocky
caverns and crevices.
Prey
Snow Leopards live on a diet of blue sheep "baharal", ibices and
marmots. When stalking prey they can leap over 30 feet.