SNOW LEOPARD By EMILY C.
Grade 5 • January 31, 2014
http://www.snowleopard.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/blog-photo-SL.jpg
Table of Contents
Introduction!
2
Names!
3
Description!
4
Habitat!
5
Range and Population!
6
Threats!
7
Solutions!
8
Bibliography
9
Introduction
Snow leopards are mysterious and amazing big cats. They are sometimes called the ghost cat or ghost of the mountain because they are hard to see in the mountains where they live. They are powerful, beautiful big cats that need our help to save them from becoming extinct.
Names The snow leopard始s common name is snow leopard. It始s scientific name is Uncia Uncia.
www.thewildlifeofindia.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/snow-leopard-watch.jpg
Description Snow Leopards are white and gray with black spots. Their eyes are gray or light green. They weigh 60 to 120 pounds. They stand 2 feet tall and are about 5 feet long. The snow leopard始s tail is about 3 feet long. It is used to help them balance when they climb on the cliffs and rocks. They use their tail as a scarf to keep warm. They have the longest tail of all big cats. The snow leopards thick coat help them to keep warm during the winter. Their fur also helps them be camouflaged and blend into the snow and rocks. Their paws are like snowshoes so they can walk across the snow. Snow leopards are super jumpers. They can jump up 50 feet to to catch its prey. " The snow leopard is different from other big cats because they can始t roar. They purr, growl, chuff snarl, hiss, and mew. Mother snow leopards give birth in June or July to a litter of 2 to 3 cubs. The mother raises them alone because the father leaves. They weigh between 11 and 25 ounces when they are born. The cubs stay with the mother for about 2 years and learn how to hunt. " Snow leopards can live for about 22 years in a zoo. They live for about 10 to 15 years in the wild because it is harder to live in the wild.
Habitat " They live alone and sleep in caves in the mountains of central Asia. They hunt marmots, goats, wild hogs, sheep, birds, rabbits, and deer. They also eat grass and twigs for other nutrients. Sometimes they hunt animals that are three times its weight like the yak. It takes 3 or 4 days to eat their prey.
images6.fanpop.com
Range and Population
www.telegraph.co.uk snow-http://leop
www.snowleopardconservancy.org/pics/how/rangemap.jpg
! Snow leopards live in about 12 different countries in central Asia. They live on high cliffs with sharp rocks. They also roam in small forests lower on the mountains. There are only about 4,000 left in the wild. They are hard to count because they are hard to find. There are about 500 living in zoos.
Threats
The snow leopard始s biggest threat is people. People destroy their habitat by making farms and cities. This destroys the snow leopards始 hunting area and they have a hard time finding food. People hunt them and make coats and rugs from their fur. Another threat is climate change. When the weather gets warmer, the snow leopards始 hunting area gets smaller. The warmer temperatures make the snow leopards go higher in the mountains, and there is not as much food. The Chinese use the snow leopards始 bones and other body parts for medicine. They think their bones heal diseases.
Solutions There are lots of people who are trying help save the snow leopards from these threats. One way people are trying to save them is to breed them in zoos. We learn more about the big cats in the zoos. Another way is conservation groups are helping farmers keep their cows from being attacked by building fences. Also, many countries are making parks where snow leopards can live safely. Another way we can help is to donate money to the groups that are trying to help. All of us can help by learning more facts about these animals.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Dorisi-Winget, Dianna. Snow Leopards. Mankato, Minn: Capstone, 2012. Print. Maimine, Sofia. Snow Leopards in Danger. New York: Gareth Stevens, 2014. Print. Merrick, Patrick. Snow Leopards. New York: The Child's World, 1998. Print. Raatma, Lucia. Snow Leopards. New York: Scholastic, 2014. Print. Shores, Erika. Snow Leopards. Mankato, Minn: Capstone, 2012. Print.