Irbis white leopard. Snow leopard: description of the animal and its photographs
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 the noble snow leopard and the domestic cat is enormous. The snow leopard also doesn't have much common features with relatives - leopards and jaguars. In a word, we are talking about a special animal.
Snow leopards live in very inaccessible mountains, and this is one of the proofs of their intelligence. While their relatives lived in Africa, suffering from unbearable heat, hunger and thirst, the ancestors of the leopards decided to go north. Despite the harsh snowy conditions, the leopard was able to achieve significant success that only an animal can achieve.
One of the amazing features of leopards is their facial expressions. Let's take a horse whose muzzle expression does not change. The leopard is another matter. He looks different in every situation: sometimes he is cute and fluffy, sometimes he is a dangerous beast.
It is for this reason that man has not decided for himself which animals to classify the snow leopard as - evil and good. That's right - neither to one nor the other, 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. But animals rarely achieve such results. They even have many enemies, so they survive in packs.
Bars doesn't need a pack. He hunts and lives alone.
The snow leopard is one of the strongest predators, because it can kill an animal that is three times heavier than itself. The leopard hunts mainly mountain goats.
The snow leopard 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, and only then attacks, suddenly jumping up like a snow ninja.
More interesting point- the snow leopard likes to eat in its home. He is not like other animals, he does not strive to swallow prey faster. No, he simply kills a goat, and then slowly carries it to the lair. The road along the rocks is very difficult, especially when there is a heavy carcass in its teeth, so the leopard is in no hurry. Despite all the difficulties, he prefers to carry 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 this way. The animal is built literally of muscles, which gives it lightning speed and agility, 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’s more interesting is that 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 without a reason. Cases of attacks on humans are rare. The leopard would rather quietly retire than attack aimlessly.
In the mountains, the snow leopard is the basis of nature. Leopards live 10-12 years, but if that happens, it will be the end of the entire ecosystem.
We should learn a lot from leopards, observing their silent calm, ability to make lightning-fast decisions, and simply admiring their beauty.
If this message was useful to you, I would be glad to see you
Conservation of snow leopard (irbis) and Altai populations mountain sheep(argali) in the Altai-Sayan ecoregion are the most important tasks for WWF. Both species are listed in the Red Book Russian Federation as endangered. The population status of these species reflects the overall “health” of the ecosystem, so they can be called indicator species.
The snow leopard is a mysterious predator of Asia. Threats and solutions.
Snow leopard (irbis) - mysterious and mysterious beast- still remains one of the most poorly studied feline species in the whole world. Very little is known about the biology and ecology of this rare predator, and its number within the current range is determined very tentatively. For many Asian peoples, this animal is a symbol of strength, nobility and power; Asian folklore is full of stories and legends about this elusive predator. Few people manage to see a snow leopard in the wild; much more often you can find traces of its vital activity - scratches, predator scratches in the trees, fur, excrement, urinary tracts on stones.
The snow leopard is listed in the Red Book International Union Nature Conservation (IUCN) and has the status of a rare or endangered species in all 12 countries where it lives: Russia, Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Bhutan.
According to WWF experts, in the Russian part of the Altai-Sayan ecoregion there are about 70-90 snow leopards, while there are no more than 4,000 individuals of the rare predator on the planet.
© Flickr.com / Linda Stanley
Camera traps in Tuva captured a charismatic predator © Alexander Kuksin
Journalists are rarely taken to these places. Even trained people find it difficult to walk on the “land of the snow leopard” © M. Paltsyn
Snow leopard track in the Argut River valley, Mountain Altai, March 2012 © Sergey Spitsyn
Festival “Land of the Snow Leopard” in Tuva © T. Ivanitskaya
What is WWF doing to save the snow leopard?
Back in 2002, WWF Russia experts prepared a document approved by the Ministry natural resources Russian Federation. The document was developed taking into account the very limited experience of studying and protecting the species in Russia. The number of snow leopards in Russia, according to the Strategy, was estimated by WWF experts at 150-200 individuals, however, as shown by further studies in snow leopard habitats in 2003-2011. , the real number of the species in Russia is at least two times lower and is unlikely to exceed 70-90 individuals. An updated version of the Strategy, taking into account work experience and new realities, was approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation in 2014.
In Russia, the snow leopard lives at the northern limit of its modern range and forms only a few stable groups in optimal habitats - the mountains of the Altai-Sayan ecoregion. The number of snow leopards in Russia is only 1-2% of the world number of the species. The survival of the snow leopard in our country largely depends on the conservation of spatial and genetic connections its Russian groups with the main population core of the species in Western Mongolia and, possibly, in Northwestern China.
In 2010, WWF moved to a new level of work and, in collaboration with numerous partners, began monitoring snow leopard populations using modern methods research: photo and video traps. This method made it possible to clarify the boundaries of the habitat of the groups and the abundance of the species. Disappointing conclusions were obtained from a study of the snow leopard group in the Argut River valley in the Altai Republic, previously considered the largest in Russia. Camera traps recorded only lynx, despite the fact that the conditions for the existence of snow leopards on Argut are ideal: high mountains, rocky gorges, the presence of the largest group of Siberian mountain goats in Russia of 3200-3500 individuals - the main food of the snow leopard in the Altai-Sayans. Surveys of local residents revealed the fact of the almost complete destruction of the snow leopard group on Argut in the 70-90s of the twentieth century, when the snow leopard fishery flourished in the mountains. WWF's task was to preserve the surviving remnants of the group and gradually restore its numbers.
One of WWF's priorities is supporting anti-poaching activities. In the same year, on the initiative of WWF, a search dog was trained to work in the Altai mountains to search and identify traces of snow leopard activity. German Shepherd Eric, who became an assistant to specialists in the field.
In 2012, employees of the Altai biosphere reserve and WWF managed to obtain the first photographic evidence of the snow leopard’s habitat: cameras recorded a female and a male, named Vita and Kryuk. In addition to photomonitoring to record and study the elusive predator, in collaboration with scientists from the Institute of Ecology and Evolution. A. N. Severtsov RAS (IPEE RAS), scientists use the method of DNA analysis of collected traces of snow leopard activity (excrement, fur, etc.), SLIMS and other modern techniques...
In 2011, in Altai, in order to distract the local population from poaching, illegal collection of wild plants or logging in the region, the WWF and Citi Foundation Program was launched to improve the quality of life of local residents and create a sustainable income from types of business that are sustainable for nature. With the help of training seminars, exchange of experience and provision of microgrants and microloans for the local population, WWF and Citi set goals for the development of legal small businesses in the field of rural tourism and ecotourism in the habitats of the Altai mountain sheep and snow leopard, the production of souvenirs and felt products, and improving performance quality of livestock, etc.
In 2015, with the support of the Pernod Ricard Rouss company, WWF specialists first tested a method of involving former hunters in environmental projects. Having undergone special training and received cameras for snow leopard monitoring, residents receive a reward for the fact that the snow leopard continues to be recorded by camera traps and remains alive and well. Already six people, including hunters from families of hereditary “leopard hunters”, have been trained in working with cameras and are participating in WWF raids, helping inspectors with information, forces and participating in expeditions.
The snow leopard is a predator that does not respect state borders. The well-being of this species directly depends on the connection between Russian groups and snow leopard groups in neighboring Mongolia and China. Therefore, the development of transboundary environmental cooperation is a priority task for WWF in the region. Joint research, exchange of experience, scientific, environmental and educational activities with WWF Mongolia and colleagues from other environmental structures in Mongolia are carried out annually and quite effectively. Joint projects with colleagues from Kazakhstan include the creation of protected natural areas and support for joint environmental activities.
Camera trap in the Chibit tract
© Alexander Kuksin
© Sergey Istomov
Sergei Istomov records snow leopard tracks
Snow leopard on Tsagaan-Shibetu, Tuva © A. Kuksin
© Mikhail Paltsyn
© Alexander Kuksin
What remains of the owner of the mountains
What to do next
For today main threat the snow leopard remains in the region illegal fishing using wire loops. An inconspicuous noose is installed by a poacher on an animal path along which animals move, and, tightening as the animal moves, it becomes a death trap. Cheap snares are often abandoned by poachers, and they remain wary long years threatening the death of animals. According to WWF experts, there are only a few cases of targeted hunting of snow leopards in the region. More often, loops are installed on other species of animals, in particular, on musk deer, whose musk gland is an excellent and expensive trophy that is valued in the eastern market for medicines and potions. Poaching of musk deer is a big threat to the snow leopard.
In conditions of insufficiently efficient equipment and a small number of employees government agencies for the protection of wildlife, WWF provides material and technical support for operational activities in the habitats of rare and endangered species. Special attention is devoted to the fight against snare fishing.
Work in the Republic of Tyva has its own characteristics. In the region with the highest livestock population in Siberian federal district shepherds live in the highlands almost side by side with the snow leopard. A decrease in the number of wild ungulates and climate change are the reasons that force the snow leopard to attack livestock, which is a source of life for pastoralists. Shooting or trapping of snow leopards by local residents in retaliation for attacks on livestock is a major threat to the predator in Tuva. To reduce conflict situations WWF is taking different steps. Thus, a scheme for paying compensation to shepherds for livestock lost as a result of a snow leopard attack was tested, and measures are being taken to instill a special attitude towards the rare predator among local residents. In 2010, a simple but effective measure to reinforce ventilation holes in covered cattle pens with chain-link mesh prevented snow leopard attacks on livestock and saved the lives of many predators.
Today, about 19% of key snow leopard habitats and 31% of argali habitats in Russia have the status of protected natural areas. WWF plans to expand the network of protected areas or improve the status, as well as the quality of protection, management and existing protected areas. The number of the group in the Argut River valley is growing - photos and video traps record the presence of females with kittens here, a new habitat of the snow leopard has been found on the Chikhachev Ridge. In 2015, for the first time, an online information system was developed for snow leopard specialists, which will collect all available information on every snow leopard encountered in Russia and Mongolia - from footage from automatic cameras to meeting places and the characteristics of each snow leopard.
International cooperation between Russia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan should develop, ensuring the conservation of animals that do not respect state borders.
WWF will continue to take an integrated approach and work in partnership with multiple partners. This will optimize resources and ensure the long-term conservation of these species in the Altai and Sayan Mountains.
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 cats, 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, deer, deer, marking goats, blue sheep, roe deer, musk deer, argali, serow, gorals, Himalayan tars, takins, wild boars. In times of famine, leopards also hunt smaller prey, such as ground squirrels, hares, pikas, and 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.
Snow Leopard represents the cat family - it is a rather graceful and beautiful predator. He is often called the “master of the mountains” and is a permanent resident of the mountain.
Features and habitat of the snow leopard
The animal is solitary by nature, it is not for nothing that it lives in mountainous areas: Western Sayan, Himalayas, Pamir, Altai, Greater Caucasus. In Russia you can find only a few percent of the total number of this amazing animal.
Snow Leopard – snow leopard, it received this name translated from Turkic, snowy. Basically, especially in the warm season, leopards live among bare rocks, and only in winter can they be found in the valley. The animal feels great at high altitudes (6 km). Each of them takes enough large area, and other individuals do not step on it.
Snow leopard description looks very similar to . On average, this animal weighs up to 40 kg (can reach 75 kg in captivity), and its body has a length of 1-1.30 m. The length of the tail is the same as the body.
The male is always larger than the female. Its coat is light gray in color and is all covered with dark gray spots, except for its belly, which is white. This color helps it camouflage while hunting.
Leopard fur is so warm and thick that it perfectly protects the animal in cold weather; it is also located between the toes. The paws are soft and long, they do not sink into the snow, and this allows the animal to hunt successfully. The jump during hunting can reach up to 6 m in length and 3 m in height.
The animal's fur is considered very valuable, so it is actively hunted, which significantly reduces the population. That's why snow leopard in the Red Book takes pride of place. And worst of all, poaching of this magnificent animal continues. A man with a gun is the most important enemy of a predatory animal.
But zoos, on the contrary, are trying their best to increase the population. Surprisingly for a cat breed, leopards rarely growl, and if this happens, it is very quiet. But they meow and purr, like all other predators.
Character and lifestyle of the snow leopard
Oddly enough, the character of the snow leopard is feline. Like many others, he is a loner by nature. He prefers highlands. The area it occupies is quite large (up to 160 km²). Its moulting territory may be crossed by the territories of females. The male mainly moves along the same route.
A snow leopard can build its home (den) in a large nest or in a rock (cave). This is where he spends a large number of time, namely its entire bright part.
At night, the snow leopard begins its hunt. It is carried out on the territory marked by him, and only extreme need may force him to go to the next one.
Hunting for the snow leopard is not only a source of food, but also a kind of fun. He can stalk his prey for hours. Leopards have practically no enemies, so they are not at all afraid of night hunting.
Only wild and hungry ones can cause him trouble, but they cannot defeat the snow leopard. The snow leopard does not attack humans; it prefers to move away and not be noticed. But still, isolated cases have been recorded in times of famine for the animal.
If we compare everyone, we can conclude that Snow Leopard, animal friendly enough. He can be trained. Snow leopards love to play, ride in the snow and even slide down hills. And after the pleasures, lie down in a cozy place and enjoy sun rays.
Nutrition
The snow leopard's diet mainly consists of animals living in the mountains: , . But if it is not possible to obtain such food, he can be content with birds or rodents.
A brave and cunning animal is also able to cope with a huge one. During one hunt, a snow leopard can get several victims at once. He does not eat them on the spot, but moves them to a place convenient for him (tree, rock). One animal wild cat enough for a few days.
In summer, snow leopards, in addition to meat, can feast on vegetation. The leopard does not eat everything that he managed to get for “dinner”. He needs about 2-3 kilograms to get enough. In times of famine, a predatory animal can hunt domestic animals.
Reproduction and lifespan
The mating season for snow leopards begins in the spring. At this time, the male creates sounds similar to purring and, thus, attracts the female. After fertilization, the leopard leaves the female.
Pictured is a snow leopard cub
The gestation period for a female lasts 3 months. Before the appearance of the little leopard future mom prepares the lair. Most often it is located in a hard-to-reach place, among rocks. To keep the “house” warm, the female tears out the fur from herself and lines the bottom of the den with it.
At one time, a female leopard can bring up to 5 kittens. Their size is the same as that of a regular kitten, and they weigh about 500 g. In blind kittens, their eyes begin to see after 5-6 days. Already on the 10th day of life they begin to crawl.
After 60 days, the babies slowly crawl out of the den, but only to fool around near the entrance. Snow Leopard, Pictures which is available on the Internet, in at a young age very funny.
Until 2 months of age, babies feed on milk, and then caring mother begins to feed them meat. At 5 months, the young generation goes hunting with the female. The prey is hunted down by the whole family, but the mother will attack first.
The female teaches her cubs everything, including hunting and taking care of them herself. The male has no part in this. At the age of one year, the young leopards already become independent and retire.
On average, snow leopards live about 14 years, but in captivity they can live up to 20. Several thousand snow leopards live in zoos and successfully breed there.
Irbis, or snow leopard, or snow leopard- a large predatory mammal from the cat family that lives in the mountains of Central Asia. The snow leopard is distinguished by a thin, long, flexible body, relatively short legs, a small head and a very long tail. Reaching a length of 200-230 cm together with the tail, it weighs up to 55 kg. The fur color is light smoky gray with ring-shaped and solid dark spots. Due to the inaccessibility of the habitat and the low density of the species, many aspects of its biology still remain poorly studied. Currently, the number of snow leopards is catastrophically small; in the 20th century, it was included in the IUCN Red Book, the Red Book of Russia, as well as in the protection documents of other countries. As of 2012, hunting snow leopards is prohibited.
The general color of the main background of winter fur is very light, grayish, almost white, with a smoky coating, more noticeable along the back and along the top of the sides, while a slight light yellowish tint may be developed. This coloring perfectly camouflages the animal in natural environment his habitat is among dark rocks, stones, white snow and ice. The general background of summer fur is characterized by a lighter, almost white color and sharp outlines of dark spots. The smoky coating of fur is less pronounced in summer than in winter. There is information that requires further confirmation that with age, the spotted pattern on the skin fades, becoming even more vague and unclear. In young individuals, the spotted pattern is more pronounced, and the color of the spots is more intense than in adult individuals. There is no sexual dimorphism in coloration. Geographical variation in color in the snow leopard is not expressed or, if it exists, it is very insignificant. The lack of clearly defined geographic variability is determined by the relatively small range of the species. The snow leopard is an extremely stenotypic species and adheres to identical conditions and habitats throughout its entire range. The head, relative to the size of the body, is small and round in shape. The ears are short, bluntly rounded, without tufts at the ends, and are almost hidden in the fur in winter. The mane and sideburns are not developed. Vibrissae are white and black, up to 10.5 cm long. The eyes are large, with a round pupil. The skull is relatively powerful, with tubercles and ridges, strongly developed zygomatic arches, but less massive and heavy than those of other representatives of the Panther genus. The length of the male skulls is 18-19 cm, the condylo-basal length is 16.5-17.3 cm, the zygomatic width is 12-13.5 cm, the interorbital width is 4.3-4.7 cm, the width of the rostrum above the canines is 4.8-5 .3 cm, the length of the upper tooth row is 5.8-6.3 cm. An adult snow leopard, like most other cats, has 30 teeth. There are 6 incisors and 2 canines on the upper and lower jaws; on the upper jaw - 3 premolars and 1 molar; on the lower jaw - 2 premolars and 1 molar. The long and mobile tongue is equipped on the sides with special tubercles, which are covered with keratinized epithelium and allow the meat to be separated from the skeleton of the victim. These bumps also help with "washing". The tail is very long, exceeding three-quarters of the body length, covered long hair and therefore it seems very thick (visually its thickness is almost equal to the thickness of the snow leopard’s forearm). Serves as a balancer when jumping. The limbs are relatively short. The snow leopard's paws are wide and massive. The claws on the paws are retractable. The marks are large, round, without claw marks. The snow leopard, unlike other big cats, cannot roar, despite the incomplete ossification of the hyoid bone, which was thought to allow big cats to roar. New research suggests that the ability to growl in felids is determined by different morphological features of the larynx that are absent in the snow leopard. Despite the structure of the hyoid apparatus like that of big cats (Panthera), there is no calling “roar or growl”. "Purring" occurs both during inhalation and exhalation - as in small cats (Felis). The methods of tearing apart prey are similar to those of big cats, and the position when eating is similar to that of small cats.
