Snow leopard predator. What does a snow leopard (irbis) look like and why is it listed in the Red Book? What does a snow leopard look like

Kingdom: Animals Class: Mammals Order: Carnivores Family: Felines Genus: Uncia Gray Species: Irbis Scientific Name: Panthera uncia Common Name: English – Snow Leopard, Ounce French – Once, Léopard des neiges, Panthère des neiges Spanish – Pantera de la Nieves Synonym: Felis uncia Schreiber, 1775 Uncia uncia (Schreber, 1775) Species Authority: (Schreber, 1775) Endangered C1 ver 3.1 endangered species

IUCN assessment information

2002 - Endangered (EN) (endangered or endangered) 1996 - Endangered (EN) (endangered or endangered) 1994 - Endangered (E) (endangered or endangered) 1990 - Endangered (E) (in 1988 Endangered (E) 1986 Endangered (E)

Why is it listed in the Red Book

Irbis have become very rare animals, only about 6,000 individuals have survived in nature. For a long time, these cats were killed for valuable skins. There was a period when man launched a fight against rodents - pests of agriculture. Then the natural balance was disturbed - small animals disappeared and it became more difficult for snow leopards to get food in winter. Many snow leopards at that time died of starvation.

Now serious measures are being taken to protect snow leopards, but it is very difficult to control their shooting in the highlands, and local residents continue to hunt snow leopards. I must say that snow leopards avoid collisions with humans, and not a single case of these cats attacking people has been noted.

"Snow Leopard" is the official name of a special token, which was awarded when conferring the title "Conqueror of the highest mountains of the USSR". They were awarded to climbers who reached the largest peaks located on the territory of the former USSR.

The mass extermination of this predator led to a sharp decrease in its numbers already before the beginning of the 20th century. Live snow leopards were very popular, keeping them was a special chic. In addition, for a long time the snow leopard was considered the most dangerous predator, for the destruction of which there was even a premium, although in relation to humans this animal always behaved with restraint and, one might say, timidly.

According to the Russian representative office of the World Wildlife Fund, in 2003 the number of snow leopards in Russia ranged from 150 to 200 individuals.

How to find out

The snow leopard is distinguished by its flexible and agile body, relatively short legs and graceful gait. The length of the body together with the tail reaches 230 cm, and the weight is 55 kg. The very beautiful fawn-gray coloration of this animal with ring-shaped or solid spots and a general smoky shade of fur give the irbis the appearance of a resident of eternal snows.

In winter, the leopard's coat becomes thicker and acquires a very beautiful color. Even the paw pads are covered with hair, which helps him move through the snow. This wonderful animal is mercilessly destroyed by hunters because of its beautiful fur, and therefore it is currently on the verge of extinction as a species.

The skin helps the beast to go unnoticed among the rocks, stones and white snow. The wool is soft and long, can reach 55 mm. The tail of the snow leopard, which exceeds almost three-quarters of the total body length, is covered with especially long hairs. This is what makes it look so thick.

Interestingly, the snow leopard has some features of both large and small cats. For example, he does not know how to growl at all. He breaks prey like the first, and eats like the second. Irbis are excellent jumpers. When attacking, the length of the jump reaches 13 m.

Lifestyle and biology

Snow leopards lead a solitary lifestyle. True, a devoted and caring female snow leopard for a long time, sometimes up to three or four years, does not part with her kittens, preparing them for "adult" life. Kittens appear up to twice a year, preceded by a gestation period of 90 to 110 days. The female takes care of the upbringing of the baby herself.

The image of the snow leopard has been used by various nations since ancient times. Irbis is the official symbol of Alma-Ata. It is the snow leopard that is depicted on the emblem of this city, as well as on the emblem of the city of Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic. In addition, the winged snow leopard is depicted on the emblems of Tatarstan and Khakassia.

In fairness, it should be said that males are not aggressive towards their fellows, they can share the territory with several adult females. Irbis regularly bypasses its possessions, adhering to the same routes. In a certain place it can be found once every few days.

The main food of the snow leopard is wild ungulates. He enjoys hunting blue and wild sheep, markhors and argali. If the snow leopard misses when jumping, then it pursues the victim at a distance of no more than 300 m, or even leaves it alone. The maximum known lifespan of a snow leopard is 28 years, the average is 13 years.

In summer, the leopard goes high into the mountains in search of marmots and other small mammals. At this time, you can also eat wild sheep lambs. This is an easy prey for the leopard. Intense cold and deep snows drive it down into the valleys during harsh winters, where the leopard attacks domestic animals.

The majestic snow leopard is rarely seen as it lives high in the Himalayas and rarely leaves the snow-covered mountains. Despite the fact that this animal is on the verge of extinction, nevertheless hunters hunt it because of its wonderful fur, and farmers because it attacks livestock.

Literature (source): Red Book of the Russian Federation. IUCN Red List - http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22732/0

AOF | 10/14/2015 12:57:15 PM

Snow leopard (irbis)

To the north of India stretches a continuous range of mountain ranges. These are the northern regions of South Asia and the southern part of Central Asia. It is in this remote region, among the rocks and mountain ranges, that a large predatory cat, called the snow leopard or irbis, lives. Little is known about her, as the bloodthirsty predator lives most of the time in high mountainous regions at an altitude of at least 3000 meters above sea level. The upper limit of the habitat reaches 6000 meters above sea level.

The real number of snow leopards is very difficult to determine. The approximate figure ranges from 3500 to 7000 individuals. About 700 snow leopards live in zoos today.

This species of the cat family is listed in the International Red Book.

Irbis is the Turkic name for the snow leopard. It appeared in Russian in the 17th century. It was at that time that Russian merchants began to import fluffy, practical and beautiful fur of a large mountain cat to the southern cities of the Moscow kingdom. Subsequently, the irbis began to be called in the European manner - the snow leopard.

But the Asian name was not forgotten. Both names are currently used. You can do it this way, and that way - as you like.

Appearance

In size, the snow leopard is noticeably inferior to many representatives of the cat family.

The beast weighs from 30 to 55 kg. Very rarely come across males with a weight of 75 kg and females, reaching only up to 25 kg. The height at the withers reaches 60 cm. The length of the body (without the tail) ranges from 75 to 130 cm. The tail of the snow leopard is luxurious. It is fluffy, and its length ranges from 80 to 100 cm.

The cat's fur is thick and long. The head is small, the ears are small, the body is squat. The paws are wide, and their soles are covered with wool. Thus, the animal does not slip at all on the ice crust, which is important when hunting.

In strong winds and frosts, a thick fur coat perfectly protects the snow leopard from the cold. During sleep, the predator closes its muzzle with its tail. It contains reserves of fat.

In times of famine, this food reserve for a cat is simply irreplaceable.

Fur color varies in different parts of the body. The back and sides are light gray, the belly and chest are whitish. In the bright rays of the sun, the fur on the back and sides usually acquires a yellowish tint. The head, back, sides, limbs and tail are covered with dark gray or black spots and rings.

There are two small black spots in the rings. Depending on the season, the fur changes shade. In winter, the fur is somewhat darker than in summer. Moreover, in the summer, the spots on the skin are more pronounced.

Behavior and hunting

In summer, the snow leopard prefers to live among rocks and mountain meadows.

In winter, it descends into wooded areas. It is approximately 1200 meters above sea level. Snow is not a problem for a predator. It moves well even on snow cover, the depth of which reaches 80 cm. But in most cases, the snow leopard prefers trodden paths.

They are made in the snow by ungulates, which are the main prey of a predatory cat.

Each animal hunts strictly in its own territory.

He marks its borders with urine and feces. If there is a lot of prey, then the land plots of the snow leopards are small. They range from 12 sq. km to 40 sq. km. If food is tight, then there are few cats in such areas, and their allotments reach up to 200 square meters.

The snow leopard is active in the early morning and evening twilight hours. It is secretive, well camouflaged, and it is very difficult for the same hunter to meet a predator.

By the way, the snow leopard practically does not attack a person. For hundreds of years, only isolated cases of such tragedies can be counted. A cat enters into a fight with a person only when it is “driven into a corner”, and the beast has nowhere to go.

The cat hunts for any living creatures, but gives preference, as already mentioned, to ungulates.

The size of the predator's prey is not scary. He is very fond of Himalayan blue sheep, Himalayan tars (wild mountain goat) and markhors (markhorn goat), whose weight reaches 110 kg.

The irbis attacks the victim from an ambush.

The length of his jumps is 14 meters. Pursues prey up to 300 meters. If he cannot catch up, he stops the chase. Having caught up with the victim, he bites her neck. The body is dragged to a secluded place. Eats the entire carcass, leaving only the skeleton. A large sheep is enough for a snow leopard for two weeks.

In addition to sheep, the snow leopard feasts on gorals, deer, wild boars, langur monkeys, hares, birds, and rodents.

He also eats various herbs, which is different from other cats. In times of famine, it eats carrion and attacks livestock, making enemies among people.

Reproduction and lifespan

The mating season for the snow leopard begins at the end of winter and lasts 5-8 days.

Pregnancy in a female is 90-100 days. Offspring are born from April to June. The mother gives birth to 1 to 5 kittens. Most often there are 2-3 kittens in a litter. Before the birth of offspring, the female prepares a den. It can be a crevice among the rocks or a cave.

Cubs are born blind, helpless, but already with thick fur covered with dark spots.

Babies weigh from 300 to 550 grams. Their eyes open a week after birth. Milk feeding lasts 10 weeks, and the cubs begin to leave the lair at 2 months of age. After 4 months, young leopards significantly gain weight. From that time on, they begin to learn to hunt, following their mother everywhere.

The younger generation leaves its parent at the age of 1.5-2 years.

Animals disperse over considerable distances. They even cross vast plains in order to be as far apart from each other as possible. This contributes to the fact that siblings almost never have intimate contacts and do not produce offspring. Puberty in these cats occurs at the age of 2-3 years. The irbis lives in the wild for 15-18 years. In captivity, the snow leopard lives up to 21 years.

The situation with the snow leopard population

The habitat of the snow leopard covers an area of ​​1230 thousand square meters.

km. These are the mountains of Pamir, Tien Shan, Karakoram, Kashmir, Himalayas, Tibet, Khangai. In Russia: the mountains of Altai, Sayan, Tannu-Ola, as well as mountain ranges west of Lake Baikal. As you can see, the area is very vast and difficult to access.

But man at all times, especially with the advent of firearms, successfully hunted the snow leopard because of its warm and practical fur, and also to protect livestock.

The result of this was that the number of the beast fell significantly. For many decades, no one could name the exact number of snow leopards living in the wild.

There are also no reliable data today. There are only indicative figures given above.

The rescue of the snow leopard was started back in 1972. National parks began to be created in Pakistan, India, Tibet, Mongolia, Bhutan, and China. All this contributed to the stabilization of the number of the beast. But as a result of studies conducted in 2008, it turned out that this population increased very slightly.

Therefore, the snow leopard continues to be closely monitored by animal protection organizations and is considered a threatened species.

Return to article: Leopard seal

Snow leopard (irbis) description

In the old days, we called the leopard a leopard. But the snow leopard is not a leopard, although it looks like one.

The same black spots on a smoky gray skin (sometimes there are also black leopards). But the fur is long and fluffy, especially on the belly, up to twelve centimeters long. Leopard - a resident of the mountains (Altai, Pamir, Tien Shan, Tibet, the Himalayas and the highlands of Mongolia). High mountains - up to two or three thousand meters. And in the summer, following the mountain ungulates, the leopards rise even higher - up to six thousand meters.

In the mountains, as you know, it is not hot in summer, and it is completely cool in winter.

The main coat color is light gray, appearing white in contrast with black spots.

This coloring perfectly masks the beast in its natural habitat - among dark rocks, stones, white snow and ice. The spots are in the form of rosettes, inside which there may be an even smaller spot. In this respect, the snow leopard is similar to the jaguar. In the area of ​​​​the head, neck and limbs, the rosettes turn into black strokes. The wool is very thick and long (up to 55 mm) and serves as protection from the cold in harsh climatic conditions.

From head to tail, the snow leopard is 140 cm long, the tail itself is 90-100 cm long. If we compare the length of the tail and body, then of all the cats, the snow leopard has the longest tail, it is more than three-quarters of the body length. The tail of the snow leopard serves as a balancer when jumping. The length of the jump during the hunt is up to 14-15 meters. The weight of an adult snow leopard can reach 100 kg.

Snow Leopard.

The leopard (or irbis, which is the same thing) watches for hours somewhere on a rock or under a rock of mountain turkeys or sheep. But in general, he is a universal hunter: he takes everyone - from mice to yaks sometimes. He does not touch people, and his temper, apparently, is more good-natured than that of a panther and a tiger.
Leopards love to play and wallow in the snow.

Having cheered up, they slide off the cliff on their backs, and below they quickly turn over and fall into a snowdrift on all four paws. A fair amount of sybarites. After the morning hunt, after the games, they settle down somewhere comfortable and bask in the sun.
The usual place of residence is rhododendron shrubs, and in some places alpine meadows and bare rocks near the borders of eternal snows.

Here they live in pairs - male and female.
In the spring they will have two or four kittens. The lair is in a cozy crevice (it also happens in a nest of vultures on a low tree!). The mother insulates the lair with wool, pulling it from her belly. Other cats, except for the reed cat, do not seem to be capable of such self-sacrifice. Leopard milk is fatty, five times more nutritious than that of a cow. The leopard has a very long and very fluffy tail, like none of the predators. Surprised before; Why does an animal need these excesses?

But it turned out that nature did not allow design miscalculations here either. When the female leopard sleeps with her babies, she presses them to her and covers them with her tail from above, like a duvet.

After all, where the leopards live, it is very cool, especially at night.
Leopard is a good father, he helps the female to raise children.
In the old leopard, 75 kilograms, large growth and other features, he is close to big cats, but he also has something from small cats. In a good mood, the leopard, for example, purrs (puma and clouded leopard too), but it can also growl. Some zoologists call the clouded leopard, leopard and puma giant small cats.

The socio-economic crisis of recent decades in Russia has greatly influenced the nature and intensity of nature management, which had a dual role for the snow leopard.

On the one hand, due to a decrease in the number of livestock and a decrease in grazing pressure, the number of the main prey of the snow leopard, the Siberian ibex and the Altai mountain sheep, has increased; on the other hand, with the deterioration of the well-being of the inhabitants, the exploitation of biological resources has increased significantly.

The hunting grounds began to be actively used by people who lost their jobs, who mastered poaching methods of catching animals, in particular, loops that pose a great danger to snow leopards.

At the same time, snow leopard poaching increased due to increased demand and high prices for skins.

Due to the inaccessibility of habitats and the low density of the species, such important aspects of the biology of the snow leopard as the structure of the range, the ability to disperse, seasonal movements, food and hunting behavior (in particular, the degree of food specialization, including composition and share in the production of domestic animals), population structure, abundance, size of individual plots, daily course, and many others, which makes it difficult to develop adequate conservation measures.

This applies to the entire range of the species, and especially to its Russian part.

The snow leopard is brutally exterminated by poachers because of its beautiful skin. It is listed in the Red Book in almost all countries. To date, there are no more than 2,000 individuals of this beautiful predator left in the world.

Uncia uncia Schreber, 1776

Detachment Carnivores - Carnivora Family Cats - Felidae Gray, 1821

A rare small species that enters the territory of the region at the edge of its range, which is under the threat of extinction.

Short description. The snow leopard is ideally adapted to the harsh conditions of the highlands of the highest mountains of Central Asia. The size is much larger than the lynx. It has a long squat body on high powerful paws. Body up to 107-108 cm, weight up to 60 kg, in exceptional cases more.

The length of the well-furred tail exceeding the thickness of the forearm approaches the length of the body. The color of representatives of high-mountain populations is smoky-gray, with ring-shaped blurred spots, reaching 5-7 cm in diameter on the back.

However, the existence of the eastern (Transbaikalian population of the snow leopard) has recently been proven, where the predator has a darker color and a strong streaked muzzle with small spots.

Habitats and biology. Alpine highlands with numerous outcrops of rocks, with stony scree, where the main hunting objects live - Siberian mountain goat, Altai snowcock, etc.

It is known to inhabit relatively low mountain taiga ranges. The area of ​​the hunting area is 40-130 km2. The main victims are the Siberian mountain goat, Altai mountain sheep, reindeer, Altai snowcock, red deer, roe deer, musk deer, white hare. For 1 time eats up to 3-4 kg of meat. The rut takes place in January-March, pregnancy 96-105 days. There are 2-4 cubs in the lair of a rocky niche.

Spreading. Inhabits the Himalayas, Tibet, Pamir, Tien Shan, mountain ranges of Mongolia.

In Russia - Altai, Sayans and Transbaikalia. In the Irkutsk region, it is known from the Eastern Sayan, more precisely, from the areas of the Udinsky Ridge bordering on the Republic of Tyva. Entry into the Irkutsk part of the Tunkinskaya Valley, the eastern parts of the Tunkinsky and Kitaiskiye Goltsy ridges and other ridges of the Eastern Sayan, located on the border of the Irkutsk region, Tyva and Buryatia, where it has been recorded since the early 1980s, has been noted.

M.D. Ippolitov recorded the entry of a female with two cubs in the upper reaches of the river. Left Ulkan (Baikal Ridge), and this is not the only report about snow leopard visits to the Baikal Ridge. .

On Southern Baikal, more precisely in its mountainous frame, traces of a large male snow leopard with a diameter of 12 cm were discovered on February 28, 2000 in the ridge.

Khamar-Daban in the vicinity of the village. Solzan. It moved along the crest of the ridge and in one place jumped onto the slope with a long 6-meter jump. near the coast of Baikal between the village. Listvyanka (formerly the village of Listvennichnoye) and the village. Bol. Cats. Thus, on the territory of the Irkutsk region, the snow leopard inhabits a number of high-elevated ridges of the Eastern Sayan along the border with Buryatia and Tyva, and it was noted earlier in the adjacent territories.

It enters the Irkutsk part of the Tunkinskaya valley along the left bank of the Irkut and Khamar-Daban, as well as along the mountainous coast of the southern part of the lake, penetrates into the Primorsky Range to the east.

Known visits to the Baikal ridge. It can be assumed that snow leopards of the Trans-Baikal population can penetrate into the mountains of Northern Baikal.

population. Single meetings and visits of the snow leopard from the territories bordering the region were noted.

limiting factors. Reduction of the area of ​​highlands due to warming and humidification of the climate accompanying this forest pressure, incl.

mountain forest, vegetation. Search and development of minerals in the mountains of Eastern Siberia. Poaching, especially loop fishing.

Protective measures taken and necessary. Included in the Red Books of the IUCN, Russia and a number of regional ones.

It is necessary to give the status of protected areas to all large mountainous regions of the Eastern Sayan and Khamar-Daban, as well as unprotected parts of the Baikal Range. on the territory of the Irkutsk region.

Sources of information: 1 - Aristov, Baryshnikov, 2001; 2 - Geptner, Sludsky, 1972; 3 - Medvedev, 1998; 4 - Medvedev, 2000a; 5 - Medvedev, 20006; 6 - Medvedev, 2004.

Compiled by: D.G.

Medvedev.

Artist: D.V. Kuznetsova.

The irbis or snow leopard, also known as the snow leopard, is one of the most mysterious and least studied species of big cats. Studies have shown that the snow leopard has more in common with the tiger than with the leopard, and both species share a common ancestor.

The separation took place about 2 million years ago. In 2006, after a detailed genetic analysis, these cats were identified as a species of the panther genus.

Irbis lead a rather secretive lifestyle. They live in the Himalayas and on the Tibetan plateau in Central Asia at an altitude of up to 7000 m above sea level. In summer, they are found at altitudes from 3,350 to 6,700 meters above sea level, where they are sometimes seen by climbers. These large cats live in forests, steppes and mountainous areas. In winter, they fall lower - up to 1,200 - 2,000 m above sea level.

The difficulty in observing and studying their way of life is due to the inaccessibility of their habitats and the large territory that they usually occupy.

Irbis are able to jump up to 15 m, helping themselves with their tail as a rudder.

Snow leopards, like most cats (with the exception of lions), are loners. In pairs, they unite only during the mating season. They are most active at dawn and dusk. In search of food, they cross their hunting grounds along certain routes. The irbis can move even in deep snow (up to 85 cm deep), but usually follows the paths trodden by other animals.

The snow leopard hunts in its chosen territory, and defends it fiercely in case other predators invade. The area occupied by each snow leopard, depending on the terrain, ranges from 12 to 40 km2.

Irbis can travel up to 40 miles in one night.

Irbis can jump up to 15 meters. surpassing in this even the cougar, which jumps a maximum of 12 meters.

The irbis has thick grayish fur on its back and white or creamy white on its belly. In some representatives of the species, the fur has a brown tint. Spots on the skin are black or dark brown. A distinctive feature of the appearance of the snow leopard is a thick and very long tail, up to 100 cm in length.

The snow leopard preys mainly on ungulates such as the mountain goat. Its diet also includes marmots, birds and small vertebrates. When the snow leopard is hungry, he may even climb into houses in search of food. Then domestic animals, cattle and poultry become its victims. In addition to meat, the snow leopard sometimes eats small branches and grass.

Few snow leopards live in nature. In 1994, the population was estimated at 4,000 to 6,500 individuals. Today it is believed that it is 2,000 - 3,300 cats. About 600 snow leopards live in zoos. For example, in Poland they can be seen in the zoos of Gdansk, Krakow, Lodz, Opole, Plock, Poznan and Warsaw.

Populations:

• Afghanistan - 100-200;
• Butane - 100-200;
• China - 2,000-2,500;
• India - 200-600;
• Kazakhstan - 180-200;
• Kyrgyzstan - 150-500;
• Mongolia - 500-1,000;
• Nepal - 300-500;
• Pakistan - 200-420;
• Tajikistan - 180-220;
• Uzbekistan - 20-50.

reproduction

Snow leopards form pairs only during the mating season. Females give birth to kittens in caves or rock crevices that are covered with moss and mother's hair. The cubs have darker fur than their parents, which allows them to better hide among the rocks.

Protection of the snow leopard population

The snow leopard is included in the list of animals that are under the protection of the International Society for the Protection of Animals.

Irbis sizes:

• Body length 75 - 130 cm.
• Tail length: 80 - 100 cm.
• Height: 60 cm.
• Weight: 27 - 55 kg (rarely up to 75 kg).
• Life span: 16-18 years.

Do you know that …

• The snow leopard can jump further than any other cat on earth - up to 15 meters.

• The long tail of the snow leopard serves as a balancer during the jump.
• The snow leopard has short and wide front legs that hold it well in the snow.
• The snow leopard's hind legs are longer than its front legs, which allows it to make long jumps.
• The snow leopard also has wool on the soles of its paws.

Snow Leopard or snow leopard is an animal of the cat family. However, you should not be sure that if he is a representative of this family, then he is like any of the cats. The difference between a noble snow leopard and a domestic cat is enormous. The snow leopard also does not have many common features with relatives - leopards and jaguars. In a word, we are talking about a special animal.

Snow leopards live in very impregnable mountains, and this is one of the proofs of their intelligence. While their relatives lived in Africa, tormented by unbearable heat, hunger and thirst, the ancestors of the leopards decided to go north. Despite the harsh snow conditions, the leopard was able to achieve significant success, which only an animal can achieve.

One of the amazing features of leopards is their facial expressions. Take a horse whose facial expression does not change. Bars is another matter. He looks different in every situation: either he is cute and fluffy, or a dangerous beast.

It is for this reason that a person has not decided for himself which animals to attribute the snow leopard to - evil and good. That's right - neither to those nor to others, since the leopard lives on its own. The snow leopard lives in the mountains and has no enemies. The leopard represents the pinnacle of evolution in its habitat. And such results are rarely achieved by animals. They even have many enemies, so they survive by huddling in packs.

Barca does not need a pack. He hunts and lives alone.

The snow leopard is one of the strongest predators, because it can do away with an animal that is three times heavier than it. The leopard hunts mainly mountain goats.

The irbis has no enemies and is not surrounded by relatives, which is why it hunts especially. The leopard does not simply scour the mountains, hoping to snatch at least something, but waits, tracks down, and only then attacks, suddenly jumping up like a snow ninja.

Another interesting point - the snow leopard likes to eat in his home. He is not like other animals, does not seek to swallow prey faster. No, he simply kills some goat, and then carries him slowly to the lair. The road along the rocks is very difficult, especially when there is a heavy carcass in the teeth, so the leopard is in no hurry. Despite all the difficulties, he prefers to bring the food home so that he can enjoy the food in peace for several days. Cold and snow prevent the meat from spoiling, so the leopard always has fresh and tasty food.

In terms of physical parameters, the snow leopard is also a special animal. The harsh environment around him gradually made him so. The animal is built literally from muscles, which gives it lightning speed and dexterity, which is why it lives so well in the mountains.

In addition, the leopard is able to jump up to 10 meters, that is, to a height of three floors. And what is more interesting, it can land successfully and competently, and all this in the mountains, where any sharp ledge brings inevitable death.

Physical strength does not make the leopard an aggressive animal. He doesn't kill for no reason. Cases of attacks on humans are rare. Bars would rather retire quietly than attack aimlessly.

In the mountains, the snow leopard is the basis of nature. Leopards live for 10-12 years, but if they do, the entire ecosystem will be finished.

We should learn a lot from leopards, observing their silent calmness, the ability to make lightning-fast decisions, and simply admiring their beauty.

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The snow leopard is one of the most mysterious animals in the world. He moves through the mountains or taiga in search of prey. This is a secretive and cautious beast, a symbol of valor, courage and strength. His image served as a magical amulet that guarded the ancient warriors. Snow leopard hunting is a cynical product of the 20th century.

Irbis are found in the countries of Central Asia, their habitat includes the highest mountain ranges in the world.

The range covers Mongolian, Chinese, Pakistani, Russian lands, Nepal, India and other territories. In Russia, in the south of Siberia, there is the northernmost border of the global range of the snow leopard.

Since 2010, the World Wildlife Fund has been researching this rare animal here.

Wild mountain goats are the main food of the predator. With the onset of summer, after them, the irbis rises to the high plateaus. And in winter it descends from mountain peaks and alpine meadows, covered with a high snow cover, to where a coniferous forest grows.

The snow leopard also attacks marals, but less frequently. In the spring, when food is scarce, he likes to eat marmots. He tries to avoid encounters with bears, but there is evidence of a successful hunt for this animal by two snow leopards.

The wolverine can be considered a food competitor of the snow leopard, because it often takes away its prey, traveling along the same trails. The snow leopard has no natural enemies, so it rarely runs away in times of danger. This leads to sad consequences when meeting with poachers - they can easily shoot a hidden predator.

Varieties of snow leopards

Snow leopards are not usually divided into varieties. Their numbers are too small for that.

There is evidence that the coat color of snow leopards inhabiting southern Transbaikalia contains yellowish and brownish tones, which are uncharacteristic for most individuals.

All snow leopards belong to a separate genus Uncia. They are the only representatives of this genus. Genetic examination showed the kinship of snow leopards with tigers, so they were previously classified as Panthers. However, later it was proved that snow leopards have unique features that distinguish them from other large representatives that are part of the cat family. For example, the snow leopard does not know how to growl, purrs like a domestic cat, lends itself well to training in captivity, and never attacks a person.

Description, size, lifespan

The height of the animal at the withers is about 60 cm, it is squat than its African panther relatives, with which it has a similar genotype. The length of the body with the tail exceeds 2 meters, the maximum weight is about 55 kg.

The snow leopard fur is very beautiful - light smoky, almost white, with dark, annular or solid spots. It is distinguished by its density and softness, it retains heat well in severe snowy winters. The sides, belly and inner surfaces of the limbs are colored lighter than the back.

The male is larger than the female.

Common Scripture:

• convex skull;
• rounded head;
• there is a hyoid bone;
• eyes almond-shaped, small, set wide apart;
• 30 teeth, like most cats;
• small rounded ears without tassels, in winter they are almost invisible because of the long fur;
• slender limbs and wide powerful paws with retractable claws;
• the long tail, exceeding three-quarters of the length of the body, is covered with thick fur, so it appears very thick.

Agile snow leopards are known for their ability to jump a long distance - from 6 to 15 meters. During the jump, they are helped by a long tail, it serves as a "steering wheel" and an effective counterweight.

Lifestyle and social behavior

Irbis are very cautious animals, they go hunting mostly early in the morning or in the evening. Due to the light spotted fur, they almost merge with the surrounding rocks, it is very difficult for a person to notice their presence. During the day, snow leopards can rest in rock crevices or black vulture nests.

Irbis prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle. They mark the boundaries of their territory, leaving special marks on rocks and trees.

The size of the holdings can vary considerably depending on the amount of game available for food. So, in the Himalayas, the personal territory of one snow leopard can be 12 km2, and in areas with a small amount of prey - up to 200 km2.

The snow leopard makes round trips around its hunting grounds, tasting the pastures of wild goats. He prefers to walk always along the same routes, choosing paths that go along the mountain range, along the water stream. In the same place, the beast can be found at certain intervals, necessary for him to pass his entire area.

Reproduction and rearing of offspring

The mating season for snow leopards begins at the end of winter or early spring. After about 3 months, from 1 to 5 cubs are born, usually there are two or three of them.

The female snow leopard gives birth every two years and raises offspring herself.

For a lair, she chooses rocky cracks covered with moss, secluded caves. The weight of newborn babies is up to 500 g, their color is brighter than that of adults, black spots are devoid of a light central part. The eyes of the cubs open on the 6th day after birth. For the first 6 weeks, babies feed on mother's milk, and after two months they already begin to eat solid food.

At the end of summer, the female goes hunting with her cubs. She brings them up for quite a long time, so you can meet several snow leopards in one territory. Her offspring are finally ready for independent existence in the second year after birth.

Are animals listed in the Red Book

People exterminate the snow leopard for profit, and soon these beautiful animals may disappear from the face of the Earth forever. Today, only a few thousand remain.

In the 90s of the 20th century, most snow leopards in Altai lived in an area called the Argut cluster, but by the beginning of the 21st century, snow leopards had practically disappeared from these places. Getting a snow leopard was a great success for local hunters. For one skin, the poacher received an unheard-of fee.

Today, snow leopards are protected by the state. They are listed in the Red Book of the IUCN and the Russian Federation.

About 2 thousand individuals live in various zoos of the world and give offspring. Most of the snow leopards are in Chinese zoos, about three dozen live in Russian ones. However, the Red Data Book and captive breeding do not guarantee the preservation of the snow leopard population from complete destruction as long as there is demand for fur.

An annual international conference is held in Altai to protect the snow leopard. Representatives of the countries where this spotted predator lives gather to discuss the problems of conservation and research of the snow leopard.

In Russia, researchers install camera traps in places where the snow leopard is likely to pass, near stones or rocks that the animal has marked on the border of its territory. After collecting data from camera traps, photographs and videos are processed and carefully studied. This allows you to control the number of snow leopards in a certain area.

Interesting facts about the snow leopard

This beast has a unique appearance and feline habits. Domestic cats love to play with their tails. This is how kittens or adult animals play when they cannot get what they want. The snow leopard has a very long tail and often holds it in its mouth for more than just playing. For example, when he crosses a mountain stream or wants to warm his pink nose from the fierce winter cold. There are funny pictures of snow leopard babies with a tail in their teeth.

In nature, snow leopards live for about 13 years, and in captivity much longer.

A case is known when a female lived up to 28 years in a zoo.

Despite the prohibition of shooting and catching, in the wild, snow leopards often die at the hands of poachers.

Scientists say there is no archaeological evidence of snow leopard hunting. Our distant ancestors idolized these animals, they were considered inviolable. The famous mummy of a noble Scythian woman, who is called the Princess of Ukok, still has snow leopard tattoos on her shoulder. The image of feline predators - tigers, leopards was often found in the Scythian culture. Especially a lot of them are found in Altai - in rock paintings, on household items.

In modern numismatics, the image of a snow leopard can be found on commemorative coins. In 2000, gold and silver coins with the image of an irbis were issued in Russia, in denominations from 25 to 100 rubles.

The snow leopard lives on high mountain plateaus, it is a beautiful and proud animal, it never threatens a person. When meeting without too much fuss, it hides from the eyes of the lucky one, because according to ancient beliefs, meeting with an irbis brings good luck.

This is the only large cat that lives high in the mountains, where eternal snow rests silently. No wonder the semi-official title of "Snow Leopard" was given to climbers who managed to conquer the five legendary seven-thousander mountains of the Soviet Union.

Description of the snow leopard

Uncia uncia, which lives in the highlands of Central Asia, is also called the snow leopard or snow leopard.. Russian merchants borrowed the last word in the original transcription of “irbiz” from Turkic hunters back in the 17th century, but only a century later this beautiful beast was “introduced” to Europeans (so far only in the picture). This was done in 1761 by Georges Buffon, who accompanied the drawing with a remark that Once (irbis) is trained for hunting and is found in Persia.

A scientific description from the German naturalist Johann Schreber appeared somewhat later, in 1775. Over the following centuries, the snow leopard was studied by many eminent zoologists and travelers, including our Nikolai Przhevalsky. Paleogenetics, for example, found that the snow leopard belongs to the ancient species that appeared on the planet about 1.4 million years ago.

Appearance

This is an imposing cat, reminiscent of a leopard, but not as large and more stocky. There are other signs that distinguish the snow leopard from the snow leopard: a long (by 3/4 of the body) thick tail and a peculiar pattern of rosettes and spots. An adult snow leopard grows up to 2–2.5 m (including the tail) with a height at the withers of about 0.6 m. Males are always larger than females and weigh 45–55 kg, while the weight of the latter varies in the range of 22–40 kg.

The snow leopard has a small, rounded head with short, rounded ears. There are no tassels on them, and in winter the ears are almost buried in thick fur. The snow leopard has expressive eyes (to match the coat) and 10-centimeter vibrissae. Relatively short limbs rest on wide massive paws with retractable claws. Where the snow leopard passed, there are round footprints without marks from the claws. Due to the dense and high hair, the tail looks thicker than it is, and is used by the snow leopard as a balance when jumping.

It is interesting! The snow leopard has unusually thick and soft fur, which warms the animal in harsh winters. The length of the hair on the back reaches 55 mm. In terms of coat density, the snow leopard is close not to large, but to small cats.

The back and upper zones of the sides are painted in light gray (tending to white), but the belly, the back of the limbs and the sides from below are always lighter than the back. The unique pattern is created by the combination of large ring-shaped rosettes (in which smaller spots sit) and solid black/dark gray spots. The smallest spots adorn the head of the snow leopard, the larger ones are distributed over the neck and legs. On the back of the back, the spotting turns into striping when the spots merge with each other, forming longitudinal stripes. On the second half of the tail, the spots usually close into an incomplete ring, but the tip of the tail is black on top.

Winter fur is usually grayish, with a smoky patina (more pronounced on the back and over the sides), sometimes with an admixture of slight yellowness. This coloration is designed to mask the snow leopard among the ice, gray rocks and snow. By summer, the main background of the fur fades almost to white, on which dark spots appear more clearly. Young snow leopards are always more intensely colored than their older relatives.

Character and lifestyle

This is a territorial animal, prone to loneliness: only females with growing kittens form related groups. Each snow leopard has a personal area, whose area (in different locations of the range) ranges from 12 km² to 200 km². Animals mark the boundaries of their personal territory with scent marks, but do not try to defend it in fights. The snow leopard usually hunts at dawn or before sunset, less often during the day. It is known that snow leopards living in the Himalayas go hunting strictly at dusk.

During the day, animals rest on the rocks, often using the same den for several years. The lair is often arranged in rock crevices and caves, among rocky placers, preferring to hide under overhanging slabs. Eyewitnesses said that they saw snow leopards in the Kyrgyz Alatau, reclining on undersized junipers in the nests of black vultures.

It is interesting! The irbis periodically bypasses the personal area, checking the camps / pastures of wild ungulates and following familiar routes. Usually his path (when descending from the peaks to the plain) runs along a mountain range or along a stream / river.

Due to the considerable length of the route, the detour takes several days, which explains the rare appearances of the animal at one point. In addition, deep and loose snow slows down its movements: in such places, the snow leopard paves permanent paths.

How long do irbis live

It has been established that in the wild, snow leopards live for about 13 years, and almost twice as long in zoological parks. The average life expectancy in captivity is 21 years, but a female snow leopard has survived to 28 years of age.

Range, habitats

The irbis is recognized as an exclusively Asian species, whose range (with a total area of ​​1.23 million km²) passes through the mountainous regions of Central and South Asia. The zone of vital interests of the snow leopard includes such countries as:

• Russia and Mongolia;
• Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan;
• Uzbekistan and Tajikistan;
• Pakistan and Nepal;
• China and Afghanistan;
• India, Myanmar and Bhutan.

Geographically, the range extends from the Hindu Kush (in the east of Afghanistan) and the Syr Darya to Southern Siberia (where it covers Altai, Tannu-Ola and Sayan), crossing the Pamirs, Tien Shan, Karakorum, Kunlun, Kashmir and the Himalayas. In Mongolia, the snow leopard is found in the Mongolian / Gobi Altai and in the Khangai mountains, in Tibet - up to the north of Altunshan.

Important! Russia accounts for only 2–3% of the world range: these are the northern and northwestern regions of the species. In our country, the total area of ​​\u200b\u200bsettlement of the snow leopard is approaching 60 thousand km². The animal can be found in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Tuva, Buryatia, Khakassia, the Altai Republic and in the mountains of the Eastern Sayan (including the Munku-Sardyk and Tunkinsky Goltsy ridges).

Irbis is not afraid of high mountains and eternal snows, choosing open plateaus, gentle/steep slopes and small valleys with alpine vegetation, which are interspersed with rocky gorges and heaps of stones. Sometimes animals adhere to more even areas with shrubs and scree that can hide from prying eyes. Snow leopards mostly live above the forest line, but occasionally enter the forests (usually in winter).

The diet of the snow leopard

The predator easily cracks down on prey three times its weight. The constant gastronomic interest of the snow leopard is caused by ungulates:

• markhorn and Siberian mountain goats;
• blue sheep;
• takins and containers;
• argali and gorals;
• musk deer and deer;
• serow and

  Irbis hunts alone, watching for ungulates near watering places, salt licks and paths: attacking from above, from a cliff, or creeping up from behind shelters. At the end of summer, in autumn and with the onset of winter, snow leopards go hunting in groups consisting of a female and her brood. A predator jumps out of an ambush when the distance between it and the prey is reduced enough to reach it with several powerful jumps. If the object escapes, the snow leopard loses interest in it immediately or falls behind after running 300 meters.

  Large ungulate snow leopards are usually grabbed by the throat, and then strangle or break the neck. The carcass is dragged under a rock or into a safe shelter, where you can safely dine. Satisfied, it throws its prey, but sometimes it lies nearby, driving away scavengers, for example,. On the territory of Russia, the diet of the snow leopard is predominantly made up of mountain goats, deer, argali, and roe deer.