![leopard camouflage leopard camouflage](https://i.etsystatic.com/23925787/r/il/cba8d3/2670296909/il_fullxfull.2670296909_hdli.jpg)
There are several charities that have been set up to help snow leopards, one of which is the Snow Leopard Trust.ġ0 Amazing Facts About Snow Leopards For Kids Today there are more snow leopards living in captivity than in the wild. There are only about 6,000 snow leopards left in their natural habitat, and this number is decreasing. Snow leopards are also hunted for their fur and their bones. When this happens, the snow leopard loses not only its home, but also its food – it can no longer find enough animals to eat. More and more of its habitat is being developed into farmland. The main reason snow leopards are endangered is habitat loss. Why Are Snow Leopards Endangered? These beautiful big cats are hunted for their fur, and are also losing their habitat. This can cause farmers to hunt snow leopards in order to protect their livelihoods. Snow leopards occasionally prey on domestic livestock. Snow leopards also hunt smaller animals such as rats, hares, and birds, and will also eat carrion. Common prey creatures include ibex, Himalayan blue sheep and Himalayan tahr. Snow leopards are capable of taking animals three times their weight. They hunt by stalking and ambushing their prey, often from above. Snow leopards are carnivores (meat eaters). Snow Leopard Facts For Kids: What Do Snow Leopards Eat? In the winter, snow leopards will live at lower altitudes, coming into forests and valleys. Snow leopards live above the tree line at altitudes of 3000-6000 m. Snow leopards live in mountainous terrain which, for much of the time, is covered with snow. Watch the video below to see for yourself how well camouflaged snow leopards are! Snow leopards’ nasal cavities are large, to warm up the cold air. The undersides of the paws are furry, to aid grip and to provide protection against the cold. Snow leopards have wide paws, which allow them to walk on snow without sinking into it. Their tails, which are not only long, but also thick, are used to protect their faces from the cold when the animal is resting. This helps them to blend into their environment. Whereas most big cats have yellow eyes, snow leopards have light green or grey eyes. Snow leopards also have a number of other adaptations for living in the mountains. The snow leopard’s spots – known as rosettes – help it to blend in with the rocks on the slopes of the mountains. Snow leopards have smoky-grey coloured fur, which provides camouflage in rocky, snow-covered habitat. The most obvious difference between snow leopards and other big cats is their colour. This may help to provide them with better balance for walking in rocky environments. Snow leopards’ tails are longer, in proportion to body size, than those of most other cats. Their bodies (including their tails) are between 6 and 7.5 feet long. (This group also includes lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars.) However, snow leopards are still fairly big animals, weighing around 25-55+ kg (60-120+ lbs). Snow leopards are physically the smallest members of the group of animals known as the ‘big cats’. What Do Snow Leopards Look Like? Snow leopards are camouflaged in their mountain habitat. Snow leopards live in and around the mountains of central Asia, in countries such as Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan. Snow leopards are also occasionally called ‘ounces’. Unlike their African cousins, they have evolved to live in colder parts of the world. Snow Leopard Facts: The Basicsĭespite their name, snow leopards are more closely related to tigers than leopards. This page contains information, pictures and a list of snow leopard facts for kids.įind out about more endangered animals here. These beautiful animals are endangered due to habitat loss and hunting.
![leopard camouflage leopard camouflage](http://www.edgyminds.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Animal-camouflage-12.jpg)
Snow Leopards are big cats that live in central and south Asia.