Snow Leopard


          The snow leopard also known as the ounce, is a large cat native to the mountainous regions of Central Asia. Despite being a mighty predator, it is currently an endangered species because it is hunted for its beautiful fur coat and the medicinal powers of its bones. Outside poachers, often assisted by local herdsman are, in part, responsible for placing the future existence of these beautiful creatures at risk. Another reason for their difficulty surviving is the increasing destruction and invasion of their habitat by humans.  

 

      Snow Leopard Documentary 1

      Snow Leopard Documentary 2 

 

                                  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          Map outlining geographic distribution of Snow Leopard (in green) 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

    


 

                                               Snow leopards communicate by scraping dirt with their paws, spraying urine over and near their dens, and marking certain areas with their feces. These are ways of marking territory. They use sounds to communicate with each other.  

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                         The Snow Leopard is currently an endangered species. The total wild population of the snow leopard is estimated at between 4,000 and 7,500 individuals. In 1972 the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, (IUCN) placed the snow leopard on its Red List of Threatened Species as "Endangered". There are numerous groups working to conserve the snow leopard and its threatened mountain ecosystems. These groups and numerous snow leopard country governments recently worked together at the 10th International Snow Leopard Conference in Beijing. Their focus is aimed at understanding the cat's needs as well as the needs of the villagers and herder communities impacting snow leopards' lives and habitat. There are also 600-700 snow leopards in zoos around the world.

 

 

What is causing the problem?

 

                                             The combined influence of habitat destruction and continued hunting practices of humans has resulted in the current endangered situation of the Snow Leopard. The value of their pelt continues to tempt poachers to track down and kill these beautiful creatures. 

 

 

How does it capture food ?

 

                                                     The Snow Leopard studies it's prey while watching from afar. He prefers to observe his victim from a height and then pounces unannounced.

 

 

What type of defense does it have?

                                                       Snow leopards are not normally aggressive but will become so when they or their cubs are threatened. As a main defense, snow leopards will usually run away.

 

 

 

 

Give an example of a symbiotic relationship with another organism in it's ecosystem: (commensalism)

                                                                                                                                                                                                        The Snow Leopards symbiotic relationship is with the Tibetan Blue Sheep. The Snow Leopard feeds off of the weakest sheep of the flock. That way the Snow Leopard benefits with a full belly and the flock of Tibetan Blue Sheep is not harmed because the sheep is no use to them anyway, but the flock is not helped either for it does not get anything from the Snow Leopard in return and that is why this symbiotic relationship is commensalism.     

 

 

Sources:

 

Snow Leopard profile            

Snow leopard photo gallery at National Geographic                 

title=Snow_Leopard_Trust&oldid=242743187         

http://www.snowleopard.org

World of Wildlife, Anthony and Jaqueline Nayman, pages 316-317, 1979