A snow leopard pictured at Twycross Zoo, Leicestershire
A Snow Leopard pictured at Twycross Zoo, Leicestershire. The snow leopard (Uncia uncia) is a moderately large cat and native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. They live between 3,000 and 5,500 metres (9,800 and 18,000 ft) above sea level in the rocky mountain ranges of Central Asia. However, their secretive nature means that their exact numbers are not known, although it has been estimated that between 3,500 and 7,000 snow leopards exist in the wild. Their body length ranges from 75 to 130 cm with a tail of nearly the same length. They have long thick fur; the base colour varies from smoky grey to a yellowish tan with white under parts. They have dark grey to black open rosettes on their body with small spots of the same colour on their heads and larger spots on their legs and tail. Their bodies are stocky, their fur is thick, and their ears are small and rounded, all of which help to minimize heat loss. Their feet are wide, which distributes their weight better for walking on snow, they have fur on their undersides to increase their traction on steep and unstable surfaces, as well as to assist with minimizing heat loss. Snow leopards' tails are long and flexible, helping them to maintain their balance. The tails are also very thickly covered with fur which, apart from minimizing heat loss, allows them to be used like a blanket to protect their faces when asleep. Snow leopards cannot roar they meow, hiss, growl, wail and purr like domestic cats. They are carnivores and actively hunt their prey. However, like all cats, they are opportunistic feeders, eating whatever meat they can find including domestic livestock. They are capable of killing
Size: 2574px × 3861px
Location: Twycross Zoo Leicestershire
Photo credit: © David Warren / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: captive, leicestershire, leopard, snow, spots, twycross, whisker, zoo
