![]() ![]() It is an agile animal that can jump as far as 14 metres which helps it catch prey and traverse through the mountains. The snow leopard is an ambush predator and will attack its prey from above when possible. Their prey includes the ibex, markhor, bharal, deer, boar, marmots, pikas and small rodents. They can also bring down prey almost three times their own size including domestic livestock. ![]() One of the most beautiful of the cats, snow leopards are also exceptional athletes capable of making huge leaps over ravines. They are strictly carnivores and eat whatever meat they can find. Snow Leopards are opportunists when it comes to feeding. It can be as small as 5 square miles or as large as 15 square miles. A snow leopards home range can vary greatly in size. An individual snow leopard inhabits a well defined home range, however, it does not defend its range aggressively when trespassed by other individuals. The snow leopard is rarely associated with dense forestation. The snow leopard is generally associated with generally rocky terrain such as high valley ridges, rocky outcrops and mountain passes. In winter, snow leopards descend to forests at lower altitudes. Snow Leopard Habitatĭuring the summer, the snow leopard inhabits mountainous meadows above the tree line in rocky alpine regions at an altitude of 2,700 metres (8,900 feet) to 6,000 metres (20,000 feet). The powerful limbs of the snow leopard are relatively short for their body size and are supported by large, powerful paws.ĭue to the under-development of the fibro-elastic tissue that forms part of the vocal apparatus, the snow leopard cannot give a full, deep roar and this along with differences in skull characteristics help to separate them from their fellow ‘ big cats’. Their long tail, which can measure as much as 90 centimetres, helps the cats balance as they move over rugged and often snowy terrain. The snow leopards head, which has small ears and a distinctive heavy brow, is rounded and comparatively small for their body size, which can be up to 1.3 metres in length and weigh up to around 70 kilograms. Snow Leopards have heavy fur on their tail and the bottom of their paws are covered with fur for protection against the cold snow. Their fur is long and woolly and helps protect the cat from extreme cold. ![]() The markings help camouflage it from prey. The Snow Leopard has a white fur coat with brownish/yellow tinges that is covered with rings of brown/black rosettes/spots. ![]()
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