Snow LeopardBy : AM

Family: Felidae

Genus: Panthera

Species: Unica

Physical Appearance White to Smokey-grey color yellow tinged fur and

patterned grey to black spots.

Has long body hair and thick woolly belly fur.

Large paws

Long thick tail for balance

Habitat

Usually found in in elevations between 3,000-4,500 meters in steep terrain broken by cliffs, ridges, gullies, and rock outcrops

Symbiotic relationships

Commensalism with Tibetan blue sheep snow leopard eats the weakest member. Leopard gets a full belly and flock is unaffected

Source of Energy Prey consists of wild sheep and goats but live stock will

also be taken.

Most active at dawn and dusk.

Capable of killing prey up to three times their own weight.

Reproduction

Females reach sexual maturity at two to three years.

Mating season early January – Mid-march

Litter size ranges from two to three cubs

Threats Classified as endangered on the IUCN red list also listed as

appendix 1 of CITES.

Reasons:

Natural prey have been hunted out of many areas.

Big cats often turn to livestock as an alternative which leads to retaliation from farmers.

Fur was once highly prized in the international fashion world.

Threats to other organisms

Hunts creatures and livestock.

Importance of organism

Controls population and health of wild animals.

Sources

En.wwfchina.orgWw.archive.org