Snow leopard lifestyle. Snow leopard or leopard (Uncia uncia) Eng

Snow leopard or snow leopard (uncia uncia) - carnivorous mammal, one of the rarest, largest representatives of the cat family.

Description

The length of the body of an adult is 1000-1300 mm, the length of the tail is about 800-1000 mm and is equal to approximately 75% to 90% of the total body length. This extremely long tail is used for balancing on the rocky and mountainous terrain where they live, and the animals also use it to keep their limbs warm during harsh winter weather. Average weight an adult snow leopard weighs 35-45 kg. There is no pronounced sexual dimorphism among these animals, but males may slightly exceed females in weight. Compared to other felines, snow leopards have slightly larger front paws, with an average foot pad measuring 90 to 100 mm in length and 70 to 80 mm in width. They also have relatively long hind legs, adapted for better maneuvering and jumping in their habitat.

The fur color of the snow leopard varies from light gray to smoky gray, with a creamy yellow and white tint usually found on the belly. The entire body of the snow leopard is covered with gray-black spots, which are surrounded by black rings. Larger spots and rings surrounding them are found only on the body and tail, while solid spots are common on the head, neck and lower limbs. Juveniles have longitudinal black stripes running along the back from head to tail. As they grow and mature, these stripes break up into large spots, forming lateral rows of elongated rings along the center of the back.

Snow leopards have long, thick fur that sheds twice a year. IN winter period it becomes thicker and longer. In summer, the length of the snow leopard's fur is about 25 mm on the sides and approximately 50 mm on the belly and tail. IN winter time years, the hair reaches 50 mm on the sides, from 30 to 55 mm on the back, 60 mm on the tail and up to 120 mm on the belly. In addition to their thick fur, they have small, rounded ears that help minimize heat loss in cold conditions. Compared to other felines, snow leopards have much larger nasal cavities, as well as small and wide heads in relation to their body size.

Area

Snow leopards live on large areas, equal to approximately 2.3 million square kilometers. They can be found on all high mountain ranges Central Asia. This includes the entire Himalayan mountain system, as well as areas in Bhutan, Nepal and Siberia of Russia. Snow leopards are found anywhere from the Himalayas to southern and western Mongolia and Southern Russia, however, 60% of the population is found in China, especially in the autonomous regions of Xinjiang and Tebet, and in the provinces of Sichuan, Qinghai and Gansu.

Habitat

Steep, rocky, and rugged terrain is the preferred resting place for snow leopards, particularly near natural vegetation. The cliffs and large ridges are ideal for daytime recreation. Snow leopards live in alpine and subalpine zones at altitudes from 900 to 5,500 meters and above, but most often at altitudes between 3,000 and 4,500 meters. In winter they can migrate to lower places, to an altitude of 900 meters. Snow leopards generally avoid dense forests and cultivated fields, but can live in coniferous forests, and in arid and semi-arid scrubland, grasslands, montane grasslands and barren areas.

In western Nepal, an area with high prey densities, the average habitat range size ranges from 12 to 39 square kilometers. However, in areas with difficult terrain, the actual range is likely to be 20-30% greater.

Reproduction

Snow leopards are solitary animals and do not communicate with others of their own kind unless it is mating season. Due to the long time spent raising their young, females mate every second year. They are polygamous in the wild, but some snow leopards have been known to become monogamous in captivity.

Snow leopard breeding is highly seasonal and occurs from January to March. When females come into heat, they make a continuous squeaking sound that attracts males. The female offers herself to the male - she raises her tail and walks around him. During mating, the male grabs the hair on the female's neck, thereby holding her in one position. Gestation lasts 90-105 days, with cubs born from April to June. The number of offspring per litter is 2-3 kittens, but in rare cases varies from 1 to 5. They are born in rocky shelters, where the female makes a warm nest of wool on her belly. At birth, weight ranges from 300 to 600 grams.

Breastfeeding lasts about 5 months, but young animals can consume solid food as early as 2 months of age. The first year of life there is a close connection between the mother and her offspring. Females reach sexual maturity at 2-3 years, and males at 4 years.

Since snow leopards are solitary animals, the longest social contact occurs during the period when females are raising their offspring. Kittens are born blind and open their eyes when they reach one week of age.

The reproductive rate of snow leopards is higher in areas where females have the opportunity to hide in reliable shelter and also feed on prey nearby. This is necessary for the safety of their offspring, since inaccessible and reliable shelter helps hide the babies from other predators and allows females to hunt freely. After reaching three months of age, kittens follow their mother and learn basic survival skills such as hunting. During the first year of life, the mother provides the cubs with food, protection, training and other necessary resources.

Lifespan

Since snow leopards lead a very solitary lifestyle, it is quite difficult to accurately determine average duration the lives of these animals. In captivity, snow leopards live up to 21 years.

Behavior

Snow leopards are most active during dawn and dusk. They are also very mobile and can move from one place to another every day and change their resting place several times during the day. Generally, they stay in one specific area for several weeks and then move to another.

Snow leopards are solitary animals, but during the mating season they are in pairs, so they share territory with each other. Individuals that are forced to share territory maintain a distance of approximately 2 km from the nearest individual. Snow leopards avoid each other by marking their paths with scratches, feces and special glands that can describe the sex and reproductive status of the individual.

They have a well-developed ability to jump high thanks to their wide paws and elongated hind legs. Snow leopards prefer to spend their time on tall structures, especially when living in captivity. A rare observation of the behavior of snow leopards in captivity has determined that the animals reduce their activity in places where people are present.

The preferred method of hunting is stalking. They then ambush their prey from higher ground, using rocky terrain and bushy vegetation for camouflage.

Communication and perception

Unlike other large cats, snow leopards do not growl. Instead, they emit a high-pitched howl, especially females during the breeding season. This sound allows females to notify males of their location and, as a rule, this happens late in the evening. Vocalizations are non-aggressive and the sound is produced through the nostrils of the animals. The presence of one snow leopard in close proximity to another causes this sound, and can be described as a greeting.

Snow leopards make high-pitched sounds and communicate their location. Their long tails used in a number of communication functions. Animals also use tactile communication, namely rubbing the head and neck of their social partner, which indicates a peaceful mood.

Another way of communication is facial expressions. For example, when defending, they open their jaws quite wide and lift their lips to expose their fangs. However, when they are friendly, they only open their mouth without exposing their fangs, and also wrinkle their nose.

Snow leopards, likewise, prefer to communicate through smells and other chemicals.

Nutrition

Snow leopards are carnivores and actively hunt for their prey. They are also opportunistic predators and will consume any meat to provide their body with the energy it needs. Snow leopards are capable of killing animals 3-4 times their weight, but if necessary they can consume much smaller prey.

The main animal that snow leopards feed on is nakhur (Pseudois nayaur). Other prey species include the Siberian mountain goat (Capra ibex sibrica), horned goat (Capra failconeri), argali (Ovis ammon), mouflon (Ovis orientalis), Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus), Sumatran serow (Capricornis sumatraensis), Himalayan goral (Naemorhaedus goral), red-bellied musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), boar (Sus scrofa), orongo (Pantholops hodgsonf), Tibetan gazelle (Procapra picticaudata), goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) and kulan (Equus hemionus). Small prey includes marmots (Marmota), hares (Lepus), pikas (Ochotona), gray voles (Microtus), mice and birds.

Due to overhunting by humans, the population of wild ungulates in certain regions has declined significantly, and snow leopards have begun to prey on livestock.

Threats

Snow leopards are predatory animals, so they have fewer threats from wild animals than from people. However, interspecific killing between leopards ( Panthera pardus) and snow leopards may occur when competition for resources increases. Adults are also a potential threat to young animals.

In the last two decades, the population has declined by at least 20% due to habitat loss, prey, poaching and persecution. The main factor influencing population decline is human activity. Wool, bones and other body parts are of particular value to poachers. The skin is in great demand. IN lately, their bones became a popular substitute for tiger bones in Chinese medicine. Many farmers are responsible for killing snow leopards and risk losing their livestock.

Security status

Snow leopards are endangered. The number of individuals worldwide is estimated to range from 4,080 to 6,590 individuals.

Role in the ecosystem

Snow leopards are apex predators, meaning they play a key role in maintaining biodiversity in the ecosystem. They are important indicator health environment and help regulate populations of animals lower on the food chain.

Snow leopards can be recognized as indicator species, and this is important because it provides an opportunity to motivate the public to support ecosystem conservation. If snow leopard habitats are protected, then many other animals also have their habitats protected.

Video

Snow leopards, or snow leopards as they are also called, live high in the mountains. To get food for themselves, they often have to overcome great difficulties. Snow leopards, like all felines, are predators and their diet consists mainly of ungulates.

What do snow leopards (irbis) eat?

Snow leopards prefer to hunt prey that is larger than themselves or that matches their own size. A snow leopard can handle prey three times its own weight.

The main food of the snow leopard is: Siberian mountain goats, marals, deer, marking goats, blue sheep, roe deer, musk deer, argali, serow, gorals, Himalayan tahrs, takins, wild boars. In times of famine, leopards also hunt smaller prey, such as ground squirrels, hares, pikas, birds (pheasants, chukars, mountain turkeys).

When the number of ungulates in the territory where snow leopards live is significantly reduced, the animals move to regions where they can get their own food. Sometimes snow leopards attack livestock (goats, sheep and horses).

There was also a case recorded when two young snow leopards attacked a two-year-old bear cub. The outcome of this hunt was successful.

In summer, leopards eat plants in addition to their meat diet.

At one time, a snow leopard can eat no more than 2-3 kg of meat.

Snow bar on the hunt

How do snow leopards (irbis) hunt?

As a rule, a snow leopard quietly sneaks up on its prey and instantly jumps on it, overtaking it with a jump of 6-7 meters. Often when hunting, he climbs onto high rocks in order to throw his prey to the ground with an unexpected jump from above. If the animal misses when jumping, then it pursues the prey at a distance of no more than 300 meters or even leaves it alone.

Having overtaken a large victim, the snow leopard tries to grab it by the throat, and then strangle it or break its neck. The snow leopard carries the killed animal to its den or to another shelter, where it then eats it. He leaves the remains of food or remains near them and protects them from scavengers. It is not uncommon to see several snow leopards hunting together in late summer, autumn and winter. Such hunts are organized by the female together with her cubs, whom she teaches all the intricacies of the life of a snow leopard.

The leopard catches birds mainly near its den during the night.

The main prey of the snow leopard from ungulates are females and young animals, as well as old and sick individuals.

In its habitat, the leopard is the main predator and has virtually no competition.

The snow leopard has every right to bear the title of “master of the mountains.” After all, he lives in this area, gives birth to cubs there, and hunts. He himself becomes a symbol of peace and life in the mountains of Central Asia. Asian peoples call this beast differently. For example, the residents of Tuva call it irbish, in Semirechye it is ilbers. Translated from Turkic, snow leopard means snow cat, this is an accurate description of the animal.

Appearance of a snow leopard

Snow leopard habitat

This mysterious, solitary animal lives in harsh environments that suit its character. Main areas:

Altai,
Tien Shan,
Western Sayan,
Pamir,
Himalayas,
Hindu Kush,
Greater Caucasus.

IN summer time, cattle grazing time, snow leopard may descend on alpine meadows, go to the forest area.

Leopard population problems

Unfortunately, the snow leopard is a rare species. It requires attention and additional measures to protect the population. The hunt for this animal is primarily due to its beautiful valuable fur. Light fur with beautiful spots costs a lot of money and is sold mainly on the black market. Countries where the snow leopard's habitat is located take the animal under protection and issue shooting bans. But, despite such measures, the killing of a rare representative of the cat breed continues.
The attention of conservationists to the leopard population is gradually bearing fruit; the number of snow leopards is increasing at a slight pace. Zoos also play a major positive role in the conservation of the snow leopard, where specialists achieve success in breeding animals.
To preserve the population, the snow leopard is listed in the International Red Book.

Character traits

Behavior during hunting

Leopards hunt alone and mainly on their own territory. And only when in great need do they look for food outside. A pair of snow leopards on the hunt - a male and a female. Predators remember pastures familiar to livestock walking, the location of water sources, and check them while walking around their area. IN summer months the animal can go to high mountain meadows where artiodactyls graze. And in the spring his path goes into the forest. The snow leopard has great patience to sit in ambush for hours, guarding its prey on a rock, and then jumping onto it from high rocks. A leopard's jump can reach up to 6 meters in length and up to 3 meters in height. This hunter walks without fear along narrow ledges of rocks, right above the abyss. He sees his victims like an experienced sniper, determining the distance from afar.

Snow leopard nutrition

The brave and fast snow leopard preys on a variety of animals, birds, and sometimes, under very difficult seasonal conditions, mice. A predator can hunt in a wide variety of terrain, which is determined by its personal territory. It can be mountains, meadows, steppe expanses, or a river bank.

The main summer diet of the snow leopard is sheep and mountain goats. And also these are smaller animals - gophers, for example. A large cat can cope with a huge yak, because in hunting it shows considerable ingenuity, dexterity and courage.
The winter menu includes moose, roe deer, deer and even aggressive wild boars. If there is no big catch, hares and marmots are caught for lunch. Birds such as partridges also fall into the teeth of leopards. Mice also become the subject of hunting.
Leopard is a famous hunter who is not content with just one victim. If possible, the animal kills several large animals at once in one hunt. There are cases when a predator killed up to 8 sheep in one attack; this was very serious damage to the flock. The snow leopard does not eat its lunch at the hunting site. He drags the carcass to a secluded corner, somewhere under a tree or under a rock. And then he just starts eating meat. One large victim will last this cat for several days (3-4). These hunting and feeding features make the snow leopard significantly different from other large representatives of the cat family.

Reproduction of snow leopards

The female and male are ready to give birth to babies within 2-3 years, but cubs are not born to the same female every year, which is noteworthy. Usually the female and male meet in May-June, then the father does not take any further part in the life of his children. All prenatal care is the female’s problem; she arranges it somewhere in deep caves warm lair. He is looking for a place where no one will disturb the kids or attack them. The female insulates the bottom of the den with her fur.

The irbis or snow leopard is an endangered large-sized predator that belongs to the mammal class and the cat family. This animal is also called the snow leopard because of its external resemblance with these representatives. Snow leopards are very beautiful and graceful. Prefer a solitary lifestyle and rarely live in groups, choosing inaccessible mountain gorges as their home.

Snow leopards are endangered and very rare species animals. They are listed in the Red Book. Due to their great popularity among poachers, their numbers have decreased significantly and the animals are on the verge of extinction. On everything globe there are no more than eight thousand representatives.

Hunting snow leopards is strictly prohibited and punishable by law Russian Federation.

Where do the snow leopard or snow leopard live?
The history of the snow leopard.
Body constitution and external features animal snow leopard.
What do they eat and how do they hunt?
Peculiarities of snow leopard reproduction and care of offspring.
Keeping in captivity.
Interesting to know: 10 interesting facts about the snow leopard.

Snow leopards prefer mountainous terrain and snow-capped mountain ranges. They live in the central parts of Asia. Representatives of the cat family can be found in the Himalayas, Tibet, Pamirs, Mongolia, etc.

Leopards prefer highlands (up to six kilometers).

On the territory of Russian vast expanses of snow leopards can be found in Siberia, the Altai mountain ranges, certain areas of Lake Baikal and rocky gorges Caucasus mountains. The percentage of representatives is negligible - from 2 to 3 of the total.

China has the most large number snow leopards - up to 5 thousand individuals.

The history of the snow leopard

Irbis is translated from Turkic as a cat that lives in the snow.

Georges Buffon (an outstanding French scientist) first depicted this beast of prey in 1761. The scientist believed that the birthplace of the animal is Persia.

The remains of the animal were found in Altai and western Mongolian territory. Later finds were discovered in the territory of modern Pakistan. This ancient predator, which was widespread more than one million years ago.

Uncia is the genus to which snow leopards belong. They are the first and last representatives of this genus. This is an intermediate species between the genus Panthers and small representatives of the cat family.

Body constitution and external features of the animal snow leopard

Appearance: Snow leopard has a number of similarities with a leopard. Average weight- 40 kg, body length - from one to one and a half meters. The tail of snow leopards is very long and fluffy. The animal is characterized by a light gray color and spotting.

The animal has luxurious thick fur, thanks to which the snow leopard is not afraid of even the most severe frosts. It is very long and soft. It is precisely because of the high value of its fur that the animal is on the verge of extinction. People hunted leopards for profit.

Snow leopard body constitution:

The head is small in size, proportional to the body, and has a round shape.
The eyes are very expressive, round, and large in size.
The teeth are sharp and strong. Snow leopards have 30 teeth.
The tail is long and fluffy.
The body is powerful with well-developed muscles and a wide chest.
The coat is very thick and soft.

Snow leopards They do not know how to growl like their relatives, but only slightly “purr”.

What do they eat and how do they hunt?

Snow leopard nutrition

It is a carnivore by nature, so it feeds on the meat of other animals. Likes to hunt at night or at dusk, as well as at dawn. Objects of their hunt:

Snow leopards love to diversify their diet with plant foods, especially in summer. Green plants are a desirable delicacy for predatory animals. A snow leopard can eat 2 kg of meat in one sitting.

Features of hunting

Snow leopards are excellent hunters, having no competition. They can cope with animals that are five times larger and more massive than the snow leopard. Solitary hunting at night is typical for them. They love to hunt for fun, and not just for food, so they are ready to hunt down the right prey for hours. When the snow leopard is ready to attack, it makes a high jump from above onto the object of the hunt.

The snow leopard strangles cattle by attacking from behind and breaking their backbones to immobilize the victim. The snow leopard does not guard or hide leftover food, as it prefers only fresh meat and enjoys the process of tracking its prey.

The snow leopard has its own inviolable territory, into which it does not allow anyone, regularly making the rounds of its vast possessions.

Snow leopards They do not move well in deep snow, so they trample down paths and constantly move along them.

The only real threat to snow leopards is humans, since it is precisely because of poachers that the numbers of these animals are very small and they are on the verge of extinction. Leopards cannot attack people and behave quite friendly towards humans. This is actively used by people who kill snow leopards because of their most valuable and rare fur.

Peculiarities of snow leopard reproduction and care of offspring

Snow leopard is ready to breed at the age of 3-4 years and it is at this age that it reaches sexual maturity. Mating season begins in February and ends in mid-spring. Attracts an individual of the opposite sex with the help of purring sounds. After the fertilization process, the male leaves his beloved.

The female approaches the process of giving birth to cubs very thoroughly: she meticulously chooses a secluded and comfortable place where she will produce her offspring; is engaged in warming the place for birth, tearing out its wool and laying it for future cubs. The gestation period lasts no more than 3.5 months from the date of fertilization by the male.

The young mother herself raises her cubs and puts them on their feet, obtaining food and protecting her offspring. Educational process is completely entrusted to the mother's shoulders, so females have a hard time. The cub is born small (height no more than 30 cm and weight up to 500 grams) and defenseless, so it is quite difficult for him to survive. He is born blind, his eyes open only a week after birth.

The female feeds her offspring with milk for only a few months. And then the process of learning to hunt begins. The female attacks the victim, and small leopards carefully monitor her movements and listen to every gesture. Small snow leopards are very playful and prone to fights between each other. By the age of two, the young leopard becomes independent and independent, therefore most often he leaves his family at this age and switches to a solitary lifestyle.

The lifespan of the average leopard varies from 10 to 14 years. In captivity, snow leopards can live much longer - up to 21 years.

These measures are used to preserve and reproduce the animal, as well as to increase their lifespan. Snow leopards are tamed with great difficulty, because by their nature they are very freedom-loving. However, representatives who were born in captivity are more amenable to the training process and have a sincere sympathy for humans.

In zoos in the Russian Federation There are only 27 representatives of these animals, and in the world’s zoos there are no more than 2 thousand.

The snow leopard requires free and well-lit space, so the height of the enclosure containing the snow leopard can reach 6 meters. We need to create as much as possible natural conditions to ensure a comfortable existence for these predators.

Leopards are fed once a day. Meals consist of meat products and live animals of small breeds (rats, mice, rabbits, chickens). They also enrich the diet with the help of vitamin and mineral complex supplements.

Interesting to know: 10 interesting facts about the snow leopard

Or the snow leopard - endemic to Central and Central Asia. This is the only representative of large cats that permanently lives in the highlands.

About 200 years ago in Russia, snow leopards were found from Altai mountains to the sources of the Lena River. However, mass extermination has led to the fact that the number of animals has decreased so much that today the snow leopard is listed in the Red Book.

Countries where the snow leopard lives

The habitat of the snow leopard passes through the territory of the following countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Mongolia, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Myanmar, Bhutan. Total area The number of places where the snow leopard lives is 1,230,000 km².

Often in these countries, the snow leopard inhabits mountainous regions. Geographically, the range extends from the Hindu Kush Mountains in Afghanistan through the Karakoram, Pamir, Tien Shan, Himalayas, Kashmir and Kunlun Mountains. On the territory of Mongolia, the snow leopard was seen in the Khangai Mountains, as well as in the Mongolian and Gobi Altai. In the Tibetan Plateau it was found up to the Altun Shan mountain range.

Russia is home to 3-5% of the world's snow leopard population. Here it is found in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Khakassia, Tyva and the Altai Republic, Tunkinsky and Kitoi Goltsy.

Snow leopard habitats

The main habitats of the snow leopard are rocky mountains. In summer they stay near the snow line at an altitude of 3600-4000 m above sea level. Climbers and Nepalese Sherpas claim to have met these animals at an altitude of 5500-6000 m. This is the only feline that lives so high. Although in some areas, the snow leopard descends to a height of 600-1200 m. This happens in the Dzungarian and Talas plateaus. Severe frosts force him to descend so low. In the Transbaikal Gobi, the snow leopard is even found in rocky oases that are even lower. The snow leopard has to descend so low because its main food, mountain goats and rodents, moves to this belt.

The favorite places of the snow leopard in mountainous areas are areas with small open plateaus, narrow valleys and gentle slopes with alpine vegetation. Often these areas alternate with rocky gorges and screes rocks. The mountain ranges where snow leopards usually live are characterized by steep slopes and deep gorges. On flatter terrain, where there are bushes and scree, the animal finds shelter.