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Viewing Hints
The snow leopards take turns on exhibit with the Amur leopards. When you visit First Niagara Big Cat Falls. See if you can identify which leopards are on exhibit today.
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Snow leopard
Uncia uncia
| Size |
They can reach about 2 feet (0.6 meters) at the shoulder. |
| Weight |
Snow leopards can weigh between 55 pounds (25kg) and 150 pounds (68kg). |
| Conservation Status |
On the 2011 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the snow leopard is listed as Endangered. |
| Diet |
In the wild, snow leopards eat a variety of prey including rodents and birds, but their primary prey are the larger hoofed mammals that share their mountain habitat, including wild sheep, ibex and deer. At the Zoo, their diet includes a nutritionally balanced meat mix, solid beef, and beef bones. Shank bones are a favorite food. |
| Geographic Range |
Snow leopards are found in scattered parts of Central Asia. Snow leopards live in pine forests and mountain steppes reaching elevations as high as 19,000 feet (5,791 meters). |
| Where to find me in the Zoo |
First Niagara Big Cat Falls |
Note: Description below should include Longevity, Behavior, and Reproduction information
A snow leopard's fur, which provides protection from the extreme cold of its mountainous habitat, is a soft grayish color with yellow brown fur along its flank and a lighter white fur on its belly, chest and chin. It has a dark strip which runs along its back. The rest of its coat is spotted with solid circles and rosettes.
The limbs of this cat are relatively small compared to the rest of its body. The leopard also has a long, thick tail that helps it balance while walking through the snowy terrain, jumping across rocky areas and climbing in trees.
Longevity
The Snow Leopards lifespan is 15 years.
Reproduction
Between the months of January and March, snow leopards will pair off in order to mate. Once the male and female have mated, the leopards return to their solitary lives. When attracting a mate they let out a slight moan and individuals greet each other with quiet “chuffing” or “prusten” sounds. The male has no role in the rearing of the cubs.
The female’s pregnancy, which lasts 98-103 days, results in the birth of between 1-3 cubs. The cubs are born in rocky shelters lined with their mother’s fur in order to provide warmth and protection. At birth, the cubs weigh between 0.5 pounds (300g) and 1.5 pounds (700g). They are blind from 3-7 days. After two months, they begin to eat solid food; after 3 months they begin to accompany their mother on hunting trips. The young stay with their mother for about 18-22 months and will reach sexual maturity between the ages of 3-4 years of age.
Behavior
Snow leopards are mostly nocturnal, doing most of their hunting right before sunrise and at twilight. Snow leopards often stalk prey while remaining close to the ground, utilizing the natural protection of the rocky terrain. Once the cat has its prey in sight, it pounces on the victim and will generally revisit large carcasses over a period of 3 to 4 days.
Snow leopards will leave trails of markings to identify their territory and to keep in contact with other familiar leopards. Unlike other large species of cats, the snow leopard generally keeps its distance from humans and often does not attack humans unless provoked.
Amga: Male, born May 28, 2005 at Denver Zoological Gardens in Colorado. He arrived at the Philadelphia Zoo on April 18, 2006.
Maya: Female, born June 1, 2007 at Toronto Zoo. She arrived at the Philadelphia Zoo on December 9, 2009.
Kimti and Dian: Male littermates, born June 9, 2011 to Amga and Maya. These are the first snow leopards ever born at the Philadelphia Zoo. “Kimti” means “precious” in Gujrati (an Indian language) and “Dian” is Chinese for “spots.”
Enrichment
Adoption Information
Featured Foster Parent
- The Philadelphia Zoo financially supports the Snow Leopard Trust, which uses a combination of approaches to conservation that focus on partnering with communities in snow leopard habitat.
- They use science and research to determine key snow leopard habitat, assess wildlife-human conflict levels, and identify potential resources for conservation programs.
- They develop a community-based conservation program after discussing ideas and concerns with people who share their mountain environment.
The project has four main principles:
- The protection of snow leopards and their habitat, involving local communities in this effort.
- An improved quality of life for the members of the community.
- The program developed must have a path to becoming self-sufficient – where after a time it is no longer dependent on donor dollars.
- The results of the program must be verifiable through monitoring programs.
- Many of the Snow Leopard Trust's conservation programs are designed to help people in snow leopard areas increase their household income and raise their standard of living. As part of the program, these families agree to help protect the snow leopard and the unique habitat they share.
To learn more about the conservation efforts at the Philadelphia Zoo, click here.
Did you know the Philadelphia Zoo offers opportunities to travel around the world and get up close with certain animals? Learn more.
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Sources:
1) IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.1 . Downloaded 23 June 2011. 2) Montgomery S. 2009. Saving the Ghost of the Mountain. New York (NY): Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, p. 47. 3) Sunquist M and Sunquist F. 2002. Wild Cats of the World. Chicago (IL): The University of Chicago Press, Ltd., p. 378-379. 4) Green R. 1991. Wild Cat Species of the World. Devon (UK): Basset Publications, p. 110. 5) Seidensticker J. and Lumpkin S. 1991. Great Cats-Majestic Creatures of the Wild. Emmaus (PA): Rodale Press Inc., p. 37.
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