It is kind of a tiger, not a leopard
On the basis of phenotypic studies, snow leopard from 2008. is considered the race of Panthera. Despite being called a leopard, its actually kind of a tiger, while leopard is it further relative.
It is smaller than “average” leopard
Due to the longer and more dense fur, snow leopard act bigger, actually is slightly smaller and lighter than the average leopard. The body length is between 100 and 150 cm, and the tail is 80 to 100 cm. At shoulder height is 60 cm, and its weight is between 25 and 75 kilograms.
Tail as rudder
Densely overgrown tail is very long and has a role as rudder. When idle, it serves as protection from the cold so that it wrapped around, and tail tip switch over the nose.
Paws covered with a fur
Its paws are covered with a fur which further increases the surface of the tread and makes it move through the snow without fail deeply into it. In addition to that, it is also good protection against extreme cold.
There are only 4,500-7,500 snow leopards in wild
Number of specimens of snow leopards is worrying, it is estimated that only a total of between 4,500 and 7,500 specimens lives in the wild. One reason is the beautiful white fur, for which it was hunted down, but also the high price that can be achieved by selling it to the needs of traditional Chinese medicine. In every country in which lives is a protected species, but poaching continues to threaten snow leopard. In addition, hunt of their natural prey is a serious problem for this big cat. Snow Leopard is very rare in large parts of the territory which it inhabits.
More than 1.000 dollars for fur
Snow leopards are endangered cat whose fur is extremely expensive on the black market. At a market in Kabul, Afghanistan, for fur of snow leopard you can get more than a thousand dollars, of course, on the black market. In western countries that price is lot more bigger. In this poor country (Afghanistan), that solve the problems of many families. On the other hand, in Nepal, China and Bhutan at great cost are leopard bones, teeth and internal organs, which are used in traditional medicine.
10% of population lives in zoos
During the 1960s, the total population of snow leopards has decreased to 1,000 specimens, it is almost extincted. Fortunately, the species has since recovered slightly. In captivity, snow leopards is successfully reproducing. Today in zoos and similar parks there are about 500-600 specimens of snow leopard, which is 10% of the total population. Instead of the average 2-3 cubs per litter, there were cases of up to 7 cubs.
Attack on people in 1988
In Tibet in 1988 was an attack of snow leopards on tourists. On the mountain Sinaga ranged pack of fifteen snow leopards. They attacked a tourist village in which there were several thousand people. There were no casualties, only one exception where a fourteen-year old boy Yamada Ishimoto by escaping broke the legs, arms and four ribs.