SNOW LEOPARD
SNOW LEOPARD Scientific Name: Panthera uncia Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Physical Adaptations: Long fur with wooly under coat Their tail is almost as long as their body to help with balance Large paws act as snow shoes Their smoky-gray fur helps them blend in with the rocky slopes of their habitat
Behavioral Adaptations: Usually solitary animals except for females with cubs Most active at dawn and dusk Mating season is January through March Young are usually born in a rocky shelter lined with their mothers fur Mark territory with a scent gland located near their tail Habitat/Biome: steep, rugged terrain at high elevations, mountainous regions Distribution: Central Asia in China, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia & Mongolia
Primary Diet: Wild: Blue sheep, pika, ibex, wild goats, marmots, hares and larger, birds Carnivore
Fun Facts: Snow leopards have been observed to jump 45 feet in a single leap Will eat willow twigs & other vegetation. Snow leopards like to rest in places with good vistas, such as cliff ledges Though not often seen in the wild, snow leopards leave other signs that indicate their presence: scrapes(a depression in soil made with back legs), scent marks and scat
Status: Population trend decreasing Special Notes: IUCN Category: Endangered CITIES Listing: Appendix l Threats Include: Habitat destruction, poaching, killed by herders in retribution for killing livestock, loss of prey, & illegal trade
Additional Notes: Gestation: 90– 100 days Weight: 55 to 165 lbs. Life Span: up to 21 years in captivity Information Sources (03/2007):updated (2/2011) Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Animals Facts World Conservation Society Red List Snow Leopard Trust Web Site
Behavioral Adaptations: Usually solitary animals except for females with cubs Most active at dawn and dusk Mating season is January through March Young are usually born in a rocky shelter lined with their mothers fur Mark territory with a scent gland located near their tail Habitat/Biome: steep, rugged terrain at high elevations, mountainous regions Distribution: Central Asia in China, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia & Mongolia
Primary Diet: Wild: Blue sheep, pika, ibex, wild goats, marmots, hares and larger, birds Carnivore
Fun Facts: Snow leopards have been observed to jump 45 feet in a single leap Will eat willow twigs & other vegetation. Snow leopards like to rest in places with good vistas, such as cliff ledges Though not often seen in the wild, snow leopards leave other signs that indicate their presence: scrapes(a depression in soil made with back legs), scent marks and scat
Status: Population trend decreasing Special Notes: IUCN Category: Endangered CITIES Listing: Appendix l Threats Include: Habitat destruction, poaching, killed by herders in retribution for killing livestock, loss of prey, & illegal trade
Additional Notes: Gestation: 90– 100 days Weight: 55 to 165 lbs. Life Span: up to 21 years in captivity Information Sources (03/2007):updated (2/2011) Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Animals Facts World Conservation Society Red List Snow Leopard Trust Web Site
