This Week's Animal (2)

                          
                           Category:
     Just because I have the looks doesn't mean I                            don't have a heart.
                  The Snow Leopard
  

                             

                                                                                                     

   Habitat:

   Afghanistan

   China                                  

   India

   Nepal

   Mongolia

   Kazakhstan

   Kyrgyzstan

   Uzbekistan

   Pakistan

   Tajikistan

   Siberia

   Threats:

   Loss of habitat

   Loss of food

   Dam projects

   Poaching for their irresistible fur

   Diet:
   Carrion
   Bharal
   Himalayan tahr
   Markhor
   Argali
   Siberian ibex
   Wild sheep
   Deer
   Red panda
   Wild boar
   Wooly hares
   

   Reproduction and Life-Cycle

   Snow leopards are not like other cats because they give birth at a specific time. They usually mate in late winter. Snow leopards can be pregnant from 90-100 days, so cubs are born around April and June. A female snow leopard can get pregnant from 5-8 days. Males usually only mate once in a mating season because of the short amount of time. Coupled snow leopards mate from 12-36 times a day. A female looks for a rocky den or crevice where she can shed her fur and give birth. She can have 1-5 cubs that can weigh 11-20 oz. each. The cubs are blind and helpless when they're born and it will take 7 days for them to see and 5 weeks for them to walk.
   The cubs stay with their mother until they are 18-22 months and will live around 15-18 years.