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We welcomed three juvenile Amur leopard siblings in 2012, and they put on quite the show with their rambunctious antics. Amur leopards are the most endangered cats in the world, with about 40 left in the wild. We joined the effort to help conserve this highly vulnerable species. Watch them in action: youtu.be/qQODsmWX9UE
There are only about 40 Amur leopards left in the wild, and around 300 in captivity across the world. We have joined other zoos and conservation organizations in the fight to save this critically endangered species. The trio that now lives here may find new homes in the future as part of breeding programs. sandiegozoo.org
Female Amur Leopard at Yorkshire wildlife Park, in the nursery enclosure with her 2 cubs. Doncaster. UK. December 2015.
A Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) crosses a road in the Yala National Park. Captured on 8th April 2007 under very wet conditions using a Canon EOS 30D (EF 75-300mm 1:4-5.6 III) in sports mode. Adjusted for color and saturation.
Amur leopard
© David Lawson / WWF-UK
Take 5 minutes to join the WWF Action Center. wwf.panda.org/actioncenter
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Link to Cincinnati Zoo..............Snow Leopard
The snow leopard (Panthera uncia or Uncia uncia), sometimes known as "ounce," is a moderately large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central Asia. The classification of this species has been subject to change and its exact taxonomic position will not be resolved until further studies are conducted.
It cannot roar, despite possessing an incomplete ossification of the hyoid bone. The presence of this ossification was previously thought to be essential for allowing the big cats to roar. However, new studies show that the ability to roar is due to other morphological features, especially of the larynx, which are absent in the snow leopard.
Description
Snow leopards are smaller than the other big cats but like them, exhibit a range of sizes, generally weighing between 27 and 54 kg (60–120 lb). Body length ranges from 74–130 cm (29–51 in) with a tail of nearly the same length.
Snow leopards have long thick fur, the base colour of which varies from smoky grey to yellowish tan, with whitish underparts. They have dark grey to black open rosettes on their body with small spots of the same colour on their heads and larger spots on their legs and tail.
Snow leopards show several adaptations for living in a cold mountainous environment. Their bodies are stocky, their fur is thick, and their ears are small and rounded, all of which help to minimise heat-loss. Their feet are wide, which distributes their weight better for walking on snow, and they have fur on their undersides to increase their traction on steep and unstable surfaces, as well as to assist with minimising heat-loss. Snow leopards' tails are long and flexible which help them to maintain their balance. The tails are also especially thickly covered with fur which, apart from minimising heat-loss, allows them to be used like a blanket to protect their faces when asleep.
Taxonomy
In the past, many taxonomists included the snow leopard in the genus Panthera, with several of the other largest felids, but later it was placed in its own genus, Uncia. It was thought to be not closely related to the leopard (Panthera pardus). However, a recent molecular study places the species firmly within the genus Panthera, its closest relative being the tiger (Panthera tigris), although its exact position remains unclear.
A few subspecies have been proposed for animals living in different geographical regions and these are listed under synonyms in the taxobox at right. With the possible exception of P. u. baikalensis-romanii which requires further evaluation, these subspecies were generally not considered valid.[7] However, the Handbook of the Mammals of the World recognizes two subspecies: P. u. uncia, from central Asia northwestwards to Mongolia and Rusia; and P. u. uncioides in western China and the Himalayas.
Distribution
The snow leopard's range in central and south Asia is rugged mountainous regions of approximately 1,230,000 square kilometers, which extends through 12 countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
The geographic distribution from the Hindukush in eastern Afghanistan and the Syr Darya through the mountains of Pamir Mountains, Tian Shan, Karakorum, Kashmir, Kunlun, and the Himalaya to southern Siberia, where the range covers the Russian Altai mountains, Sajan, Tannu-Ola mountains and the mountains to the west of Lake Baikal. In Mongolia it is found in the Mongolian and Gobi Altai and the Khangai Mountains. In Tibet it is found up to the Altyn-Tagh in the North.
Ecology and Behaviour
In summer, the snow leopard usually lives above the tree line on mountainous meadows and in rocky regions at an altitude of 2,700 m (8,900 ft) to 6,000 m (20,000 ft). In winter, it comes down into the forests to an altitude of around 2,000 m (6,600 ft). It leads largely a solitary life, although mothers may rear cubs for extended periods of time in dens in the mountains.
An individual snow leopard lives within a well defined home range but does not defend its territory aggressively when encroached upon by other snow leopards. Home ranges vary greatly in size. In Nepal, where prey is abundant, a home range may be as small as 12 km2 (5 sq mi) to 39 km2 (15 sq mi) and up to 5 to 10 animals are found here per 100 km2 (39 sq mi); whereas, in habitats with sparse prey, an area of 1,000 km2 (386 sq mi) supports only 5 of these cats.
Snow leopards are crepuscular being most active at dawn and dusk.
Feeding
Snow leopards are carnivores and actively hunt their prey. However, like all cats, they are opportunistic feeders, eating whatever meat they can find including carrion and domestic livestock. They are capable of killing animals three times their size but will readily take much smaller prey such as hares and birds.
The diet of the snow leopard varies across their range and with the time of year, and is dependent on prey availability. In the Himalayas it preys mostly on bharals (Himalayan blue sheep) but in other mountain ranges such as the Karakorum, Tian Shan, and Altai, its main prey consists of Siberian ibex and argali, a type of wild sheep, although this has become rarer in some parts of the snow leopard's range. Other large animals eaten include various types of wild goats and sheep (such as markhors and urials), other goat-like ruminants such as Himalayan tahr and gorals, plus deer, boars, and langur monkeys. Smaller prey consists of marmots, woolly hares, pikas, various rodents , and birds such as the snow cock and chukar.
It is not averse to taking domestic livestock which brings it into direct conflict with humans. Herders will kill snow leopards to prevent them from taking their animals.
Snow leopards prefer to ambush prey from above and can leap as far as 14 meters (46 ft).
Breeding and life cycle
Snow leopards usually mate in late winter and have a gestation period of 90–100 days. Litter sizes vary from one to five cubs but two or three is more usual. The cubs remain with their mother until they become independent after around 18–22 months.
Snow leopards normally live for 15–18 years, but may live for up to 20 years in captivity.
Population and conservation
In 1972 the International Union for Conservation of Nature, (IUCN) placed the snow leopard on its Red List of Threatened Species as globally "Endangered"; the same threat category was applied in the assessment conducted in 2008.
There are also 600-700 snow leopards in zoos around the world
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He just walked past me at Edinburgh Zoo. Did you ever see a more beautiful creature? Stunning.
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Snow Leopard relaxing at Mogo Zoo.
Cards and Prints of this image available at RedBubble: Leopard Profile
sitting behind this tree.. he was watching impalas coming down to drink... wasnt too pleased to see us
"Indian Leopard" is a leopard subspecies widely distributed on the Indian subcontinent. Classified as Near Threatened by IUCN since 2008 because populations have declined following habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching for the illegal trade of skins and body parts, and persecution due to conflict situations
Location: Jhalana Forest Reserve - Rajasthan, India