Snow Leopard

Facts

IUCN ENDANGERED (EN)

Facts about this animal

The snow leopard is the only large cat living exclusively in high mountain ranges, and it is perfectly adapted to this environment. Its light-greyish pelt, tinged with yellow and patterned with dark grey rosettes and spots provides excellent camouflage for its surroundings of bare rocks and snow. Further adaptations for high altitude life include an enlarged nasal cavity, shortened limbs, well-developed chest muscles for climbing, long hair with dense, woolly underfur , which grows as long as 12 cm on the belly, and a tail up to one meter long, which aids balance and wrapped around the body keeps the animal warm when resting. Snow leopards molt twice a year, but the summer coat differs little from the winter in density and length. . Male snow leopards are larger than females, with average weights between 45-55 kg as opposed to 35-40 kg for females.

Snow leopards predate mainly on mountain ungulates such as wild sheep, blue sheep, Asian ibex and markhor, but they hunt also small mammals like pikas or hares, and gamebirds. They can cause considerable damage tolivestock, which doesn't make them very popular with local herdsmen.

Did you know?
that the snow leopard cannot make the low and intense "roars" of which the other big cats are capable? This is because its vocal fold is less developed than in other pantherines, lacking a thick pad of fibro-elastic tissue.

Factsheet
Class	MAMMALIA
Order	CARNIVORA
Suborder	FISSIPEDIA
Family	FELIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Uncia uncia
Name (English)	Snow Leopard
Name (French)	Panthère des neiges, Once
Name (German)	Schneeleopard, Irbis
Name (Spanish)	Leopardo nival, Pantera de la nieves
CITES Status	Appendix I
CMS Status	Appendix I

Photo Copyright by
Quadell

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Central Asia
Habitat	Mountains, arid and semi-arid shrubland, grassland or steppe
Wild population	Approx. 3'500-7'000 (1996)
Zoo population	373 reported to ISIS

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

Transport crates should be sufficiently large to meet legal requirements, sufficiently strong to prevent escape or damage to the crate and animal, and have an adequate number of handles. Basic design should allow free flow of air through multiple sides of the container. A double door design on each end of the crate should be used. The "inner" door on each end should have bars to contain the animal, and the "outer" door should consist of a thin panel of expanded metal that provides safety for the handlers. The doors on each end of the crate should travel vertically to facilitate animal transfer and contain a secure locking system. The crate should drain well, and absorbent bedding should be used to prevent the animal from being exposed to or lying in urine or excreta. The crate should be of a size that allows easy lifting, transport and movement through doorways.

The shipment should be organised in a way to minimise stress. The animal should have access to its transport crate for 2 weeks before shipment, preferably being fed within it. If an extended trip is anticipated, water and eventually food should be provided while the animal is in transit. Ideally one of the animal's keepers should accompany it during transport, providing for its care and helping it adjust to the new environment.

For air transport, Container Note 72 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

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Photo Copyright by
Gunnar Ries Amphibol

Why do zoos keep this animal

The snow leopard is a vulnerable species with a small total population. It was and still is illegally hunted for its fur. In 1971, when CITES was not yet in existence, an International Studbook was established under the WAZA umbrella, and zoos maintain now a self-sustained reserve population managed under several regional conservation breeding programmes. The snow leopard, being a highly specialized cat species is also an interesting subject for environmental education. It is a good ambassador for mountain ecosystem it inhabits and the threatened species occurring in these areas.

How this animal should be kept

Legal requirements for the keeping of large cats vary greatly from country to country. Even if lower national standards apply, it is recommended that an outdoor enclosure of 500 m² per pair, or a female with offspring if kept separate, should be provided. The enclosure should be enlarged by 50 m² for each additional adult. If the animals are kept indoors at times, enclosures of at least 15 m² per adult animal are necessary, as in the case of other large cats (see there). It should be noted however that the animals are cold-resistant and need only a simple shelter with sleeping dens. Enclosures should be at least 3.5 m high. The animals should have access to the outdoor enclosure all year round.

Outdoor enclosures should be well drained. They should have natural soil with a grass cover or a layer of sand, marly limestone, gravel or similar substrate. Enclosures must not be empty but suitably furnished to meet the snow leopards' needs such as the following: Visual barriers to enable the snow leopards to hide from one another, e.g. rises/dips in the ground, logs, rocks, plantings, but these should not allow one cat to corner another, there should always be an escape route. Trees for scratching and shade, but not too near the fence unless the top of the enclosure is secured by a net. Platforms for sitting on and overlooking a view - if possible, one in the shade and one in the sun. Plants that smell strong and/or attract insects add interest. There must be several resting places, such as niches or caves, providing some protection from inclement weather.

Snow leopards are solitary animals and should be kept alone, in pairs or small groups of compatible animals. Females giving birth should be separated and should be kept separate while rearing unless the other animals of the group are known to be tolerant towards the youngsters.. There should be a cubbing den; dry, dark, quiet, warm, draught-free, positioned in the least disturbed part of the facility. A wooden den in this for giving birth is an option but not essential if the den is well designed. A low-light video camera in this is good if there is the money for it. A keeper spyhole is an option instead but take care that using it does not disturb the mother.

Access to outside enclosure for regular cleaning should be through either the indoor facility or a lock chamber so that there is more security. There should be at least two lockable doors between a cat and the outside world at any time. Doors should open inward; that way if a door is not locked and a cat pushes on it, it stays closed. There can also be a large gate directly from the outside enclosure to the outside world for occasional use when wanting to bring in a new tree or large log or other cage furniture.

The diet should consist of entire carcases, meat on the bone, eventually with skin, supplemented with mineral salts and vitamins, and occasionally by-products. In North America commercial diets consisting of minced meat with mineral and vitamin supplements are available. Such feed is, however, not deemed to be in compliance with animal welfare regulations of many countries in Europe and possibly elsewhere. When feeding poultry, it should be considered that all large cats are susceptible to virulent strains of avian influenza.