Research Paper On Snow Leopards

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The Snow Leopard Description The snow leopard (Panthera uncia syn. Uncia uncia) is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. It is listed as endangered on theIUCN Red List of Threatened Species because, as of 2003, the size of the global population was estimated at 4,080–6,590 adults, of which fewer than 2,500 individuals may reproduce in the wild. Snow leopards have a smoky gray or tan color fur and a white underside. Their fur is spotted with dark grey or black spots, and their eyes are usually a pale green or grey color. Considered to be a smaller than most of the large cats snow leopards, generally weigh between 60 and 120 pounds. They have a short body compared to their tail, and they are considered to be …show more content…

Snow leopards inhabit alpine and subalpine zones at elevations from 3,000 to 4,500 m (9,800 to 14,800 ft) in the northern range countries, they also occur at lower elevations. In warmer summer months snow leopards live above the tree lines, where is it colder. Diet Snow leopards are carnivores, which means they hunt for their prey, but they do occasionally feed on vegetation. Their main prey consists of domestic livestock when it can be found, but they will also prey on anything from hares, to goats, to horses. The diet of the snow leopard varies across its range and with the time of year, and depends on prey availability. In the Himalayas, it preys mostly on bharals (Himalayan blue sheep), but in other mountain ranges, such as the Karakoram,Tian Shan, Altai and Tost Mountains of Mongolia, its main prey consists ofSiberian ibex and argali, a type of wild sheep, although the latter has become rarer in some parts of the snow leopard's range. [ They often like to hunt by sneaking up on their prey, and attacking from a higher advantage point. Most prey is killed by a bite on the neck, which

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