Snow Leopard

1. By: Khoo Tao Wei Class 4/3 (5) Snow Leopard

2. Introduction Snow leopards are one of the most endangered wild cats. They are the one big cat that cannot roar. Villages seldomsee a best a fleeting apparition, snow leopards have named ‘Ghost of the mountains’.

3. Habitat These rare, beautiful grey leopards live in the mountains of Central Asia, such as in Bhutan, China, India, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan and Russia.

4. Diet Snow leopards hunt the blue sheep of Tibet and the Himalaya, as well as the mountain ibex found over most of the rest of their territory. Though these powerful predators can kill animals three times their weight, they also eat smaller fare, such as marmots, hares, and game birds.

5. Physical description They are recognised by thick hair, and their wide, fur-covered feet acting as natural snowshoes. Snow leopards have powerful legs and are tremendous leapers, able to jump as far as 15 meters. They use their long tails for balance and as blankets to cover sensitive body parts against the severe mountain chill.

6. Threats The killing of snow leopards are for the illegal wildlife trade market. Snow leopard body parts can sell for thousands of US dollars, as their fur is highly coveted*, as well as their bones. They are also sold for traditional Asian medicine. *Wanted eagerly

7. conclusion People make a program called “Snow Leopard Program” to help conserve snow leopards. They are trying to make a remote habitat for the snow leopards.

8. Source http://www.panthera.org/species/snow-leopard/ http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/snow-leopard/