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Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia)
The snow leopard is classified as a member of the order Carnivora (Carnivores) and is a member of the family Felidae. It is classified as an endangered species due to an estimated population of no more than 2500 snow leopards and the fact that it has no subpopulation numbering more than 250 mature leopards. Snow leopards can be found in eastern Asia
We came upon this beautiful animal just at the end of our safari for the night. He is lit by the the guide's spotlight. Stunning creature!
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This shot was taken in the Kapama Game Reserve, South Africa.
It was our last game drive and as we went around a corner this leopard rushed out of the bush and gave a mock attack.
Our game ranger had seen leopard cubs dash into the bush just before we came around the corner. The mother came out to protect her cubs.
A leopard taking a nap
UPDATE: I've re-edited this photograph to exclude the fence and given it a bit of a rework.
South Luangwa National Park, Zambia - The image was taken during 5 weeks of traveling on an overlander camping tour through east and south Africa in 2015. - Die Aufnahme entstand bei einer 5-wöchigen Campingtour durch das südliche und östliche Afrika im Jahr 2015.
One of the snow leopards of the zoo of Basel drinking from the very small pond they have in the enclosure.
Leopards are easy to find in the park but that doesn't make them any less of an exciting subject. South Luangwa National Park
Big cat in jail
This is the second day in a row I wore this dress, but yesterday’s styling was boringly conservative (to speak to a group of accountants), so I took no photos.
I tricked everyone into thinking that the leopard blouse was actually a part of this striped wrap dress. I’ve found that pattern mixing is generally more acceptable if the garment already incorporates the mix. I just went along with the assumption and said “thank you,” when the pattern contrast was admired.
Dress, Banana Republic (consignment). Blouse, INC (thrifted). Shoes, Ferragamo (thrifted). Earrings, Claire’s Boutique.
Text taken from Linton Zoo website: Since the turn of the century leopards have disappeared from much of their former range and several subspecies are under threat. This is due to the encroachment of people who starve them by destroying their habitat and killing their prey. This makes them turn to domestic livestock which of course makes them unpopular and so they are poisoned or shot. The fur trade has also taken its toll and in the 1960-70s 60, 000 skins were sold every year.
Leopards are very adaptable and eat a variety of prey, which include warthog, gazelle, porcupine, wildebeest, impala, ostriches and baboons. They ambush their prey, attacking with a short charge and grabbing it by the throat to suffocate it. They then carry it up the nearest tree to eat in safety. They are able to climb carrying (250lbs) twice their own weight.
After a gestation period of 3.5 months 2-4 cubs are usually born. Cubs are weaned at the age of 3 months. They become independent at 2 years old, but won’t be sexually mature till they are 3 years old. They can live up to 20 years old.
Leopards are born with spots or are black. A black panther is a leopard which is melanistic, this means it has as excess of pigment, as opposed to albino which is a lack of pigment. You can still see the leopard spots if you look closely. Black leopards are rarer than spotted leopards.
I have to be up front and say that this was far from my best trip to the Akron Zoo, but I did get to very briefly see the three snow leopard cubs - Layan, Altai (males) and Asha (female) - mother Shanti and father Roscoe. Pictures were whatever you got in the two minutes they gave you as we stood two deep, shoulder-to-shoulder at the glass. I am not sure if Shanti was happy with the arrangements either, but the cubs pretty much ignored us.
More information:
This was one of the most photogenic leopards I have ever come across. An absolute pleasure to photograph
Our first ever sighting of a leopard in the wild, an incredible experience and we never imagined we would get up this close and personal, and now we are both devoted fans counting this creature as our favourite.
We were nearing the end of a morning game drive and a call came in of a leopard laid in the shade. When we arrived and pulled up on the other side of the spotting vehicle our view was interrupted by long grass and strands of bush. However, after a few minutes he got up and wandered through the bush (incredible how quickly they disappear!) but over the course of the next 15 to 20 minutes we spotted it on 4 separate occasions, allowing for a variety of shots to be taken.
The leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of the five "big cats" in the genus Panthera. It is a member of the family Felidae with a wide range in regions of sub-Saharan Africa, West Asia, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia to Siberia. Fossil records found in Italy suggest that in the Pleistocene it ranged as far as Europe.
Compared to other members of Felidae, the leopard has relatively short legs and a long body with a large skull. It is similar in appearance to the jaguar, but is smaller and more lightly built. Its fur is marked with rosettes similar to those of the jaguar, but the leopard's rosettes are smaller and more densely packed, and do not usually have central spots as the jaguar's do. Both leopards and jaguars that are melanistic are known as black panthers.
The leopard's success in the wild is due to its well camouflaged fur; its opportunistic hunting behaviour, broad diet, and strength to move heavy carcasses into trees; its ability to adapt to various habitats ranging from rainforest to steppe and including arid and montane areas; and to run at speeds up to 58 kilometres per hour (36 mph).
It is listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List because leopard populations are declining in large parts of their range. They are threatened by habitat loss and pest control. Their habitats are fragmented and they are illegally hunted so that their pelts may be sold in wildlife trade for medicinal practices and decoration.