Snow leopard

Because of its strength, dexterity and mysteriousness the snow leopard was always a hero of ancient legends and stories. Today this animal is one of the symbols of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It is represented in the national symbols of our country.

This animal is a member of the cat family that lives in the mountainous regions of Kazakhstan and other countries of Central Asia. It spends summers in the Tjan-Shan.

Mountains as high 5 thousand meters above sea level. During the coldest winter months the snow leopard may travel down into valleys.

The snow leopard which is also called “ounce” grows about 1.8 to 2 meters long. It has thick, pale gray fur marked with leopard like brown spots. When hunting a snow leopard quietly stalks its prey and then springs on it. This brave animal has been observed leaping as far as fifteen meters. The snow leopard eats such wild mammals as deer, ibex, marmots and picas as well as domestic livestock.

Although the snow leopard resembles such big cats as lions and tigers in size and appearance, it has many characteristics of smaller cats. For example, the snow leopard cannot roar like other big cats but it can purr like a domestic cat. Also snow leopard feed in crouched position as domestic cats do. Other big cats feed while lying down.

Snow leopards are mostly solitary animals. However, males and females hunt together during the mating season. Female snow leopards give birth in the spring or early summer usually to two or three cubs. The snow leopard is an endangered species because so many of them have been killed for their fur.