Snow leopard - Panthera uncia
Desricption:
Snow Leopard, also known as the ounce, large mammal of the cat family, found in the mountains of Central Asia. The animal's range extends from altitudes of 2,700 to 6,000 m (8,860 to 19,700 ft) in the summer, when the animals it eats migrate upwards to graze on new grass. It has a thick layer of soft underfur covered by thick, long hair.The beautiful coat is pale grey, with black rosettes and small spots, and a black streak along the spine; the underparts are whitish.
The body length is about 1 to 1.3 m (3.3 to 4.3 ft) and the tail length is 0.8 to 1 m (2.6 to 3.3 ft). The animal is mainly nocturnal, and there are usually two to three cubs in a litter.
Environment:
These pale creatures roam the mountains and slops within forests and woodland.Food:
Snow leopards stalk prey such as, ibex, markhor, wild sheep and goats, boar and ground-dwelling birds, such as pheasants, partridges and snowcocks.Problem:
The problem this cat has that it has been overhunted for their fluffy fur.Solution:
Hunters must stop killing these cats just for their fur for these animals to survive. Zoosare now trying to help these cats with breeding programs to raise there populations
again.
Information provided by: http://members.optusnet.com.au.