Snow Leopard

Question 1

What is the snow leopard’s scientific name?

Answer 1

Panthera Uncia

Question 2

How far down a cliffside can a snow leopard leap?

Answer 2

60 feet

Question 3

How big is a snow leopard?

Answer 3

Body length is 3 - 4.5 feet, but tail length included makes them 5 - 8 feet. They weigh 55 - 165 pounds.

Question 4

What is the gestation period of the snow leopard?

Answer 4

90 - 103 days. April to June

Question 5

What is the average litter of a snow leopard?

Answer 5

Three cubs, each weighing one pound at birth.

Question 6

When do snow leopards reach sexual maturity?

Answer 6

2 - 3 years

Question 7

What is the snow leopard’s average lifespan?

Answer 7

14 years. Can live up to 21 in captivity.

Question 8

What is the range and habitat of the snow leopard?

Answer 8

They live in high alpine regions of central Asia. They can be found over 8,000 feet.

Question 9

What do snow leopards eat?

Answer 9

Wild sheep, goats, deer, small mammals, game birds, and livestock.

Question 10

what is a snow leopard’s maximum prey size?

Answer 10

Three times their size

Question 11

Are snow leopards social?

Answer 11

No. They only pair up when mating or caring for young.

Question 12

How do snow leopards communicate?

Answer 12

They scratch things, mark things with their scent, and make sounds.

Question 13

Can snow leopards roar?

Answer 13

No. They can only hiss, growl, and mew.

Question 14

What are the snow leopard’s predators?

Answer 14

They have none. They are an apex predator.

Question 15

When are snow leopards active?

Answer 15

They are mostly active during the day (diurnal) or at dawn and dusk (crepuscular).

Question 16

Where do snow leopards spend their nights and give birth?

Answer 16

They make dens in crevices and caverns that are often lined with their fur.

Question 17

Why do snow leopards have such large paws?

Answer 17

The paws are used like snowshoes. They allow them to comfortably and silently move through snow up to 33 inches deep. The fur on the paws keeps them warm.

Question 18

Why do snow leopards have such long tails?

Answer 18

They use their tails for balance. They will also wrap them around their face to shield them from the cold.

Question 19

Are snow leopards endangered?

Answer 19

Yes. Humans hunt them for their warm fur and organs. The organs are used in traditional Chinese medicine. Farmers also shoot them to protect livestock. The numbers of their prey are also declining.

Question 20

How many snow leopards are left?

Answer 20

Between 4,000 and 7,000 with 600 in captivity. The numbers are difficult to estimate because of the harsh conditions of their habitat.

Question 21

what do snow leopards do when winter comes and it gets really cold?

Answer 21

They will move down to some lower elevations.

Question 22

Why do snow leopards have big nostrils?

Answer 22

It allows them to take in more oxygen from the thin mountain air.

Question 23

Are snow leopards aggressive?

Answer 23

No. They will readily abandon kills and run away if threatened. There are no recorded attacks on humans.

Question 24

How do snow leopards hunt?

Answer 24

They ambush from above, using camouflage. They kill with a bite to the neck and drag their prey to a secret place.