Snow leopards are one of the world’s most elusive cats. Learn how these “mountain ghosts” are perfectly equipped to thrive in extreme, high-elevation habitats, and how they expertly hunt agile prey.
Transcript
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(tribal music)
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- [Narrator] Snow leopards are one of
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the world's most elusive cats.
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Nicknamed ghosts of the mountains,
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they live in the world's highest ranges,
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and are one of the least
understood felines.
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Snow leopards inhabit the highest altitude
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documented of any cat.
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Their habitat includes the
highest mountain ranges
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across central Asia, with
altitudes up to 20,000 feet.
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Snow leopards have adapted to thrive
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in these extremely high elevations,
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where the air has low levels of oxygen.
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They've developed wide nasal passages
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and large chest cavities
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that increase the volume
of air breathed in.
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And they have smaller and
more numerous red blood cells
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than typical cats, maximizing
the amount of oxygen
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absorbed by the body.
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Snow leopards can endure temperatures
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as low as negative 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
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To keep warm in this inhospitable climate,
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snow leopards have the
densest fur of all cats,
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with nearly 26,000 hairs per square inch.
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A human only has about
1,300 per square inch.
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Snow leopards also have giant
paws that act as snow shoes,
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distributing their weight so
they can walk on top of snow,
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instead of sinking in.
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To stay warm while they rest,
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snow leopards wrap their furry tails
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around their bodies like a blanket.
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Snow leopard tails are balancing tools.
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The snow leopard tail
is one of the thickest
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and longest tails of all big cats,
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it can grow up to 90%
as long as their bodies.
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The long tail acts as a counterweight,
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similar to a tightrope
walker's balancing bar.
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This helps snow leopards to
hunt agile, wild sheep and goats
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in steep, rugged environments.
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It helps them balance and quickly pivot
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as they chase nimble prey.
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Snow leopards can leap
farther than any other animal.
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Snow leopards can grow to seven feet long,
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including their tail.
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Thanks to strong legs,
they can leap distances
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up to 50 feet.
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That's seven times their own length.
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Snow leopards' front legs are
shorter than their hind legs,
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helpful for quick starts and rapid speeds.
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Their broad, muscular chests
are like shock absorbers,
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dampening the impact of
nearly vertical hunts.
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Snow leopards are
vulnerable to extinction.
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By some estimates, there could be fewer
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than 8,000 wild snow leopards.
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Climate change might impact their habitat,
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reducing the big cats'
range and food sources.
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Increased ranching and herding
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has caused the decline in wild prey,
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and conflict between snow
leopards and humans has developed.
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When wild prey is scarce,
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snow leopards prey on domestic livestock.
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This causes herders to lose income,
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and some then kill the
cats in retaliation.
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Community-based conservation efforts
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have focused on reducing this conflict.
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Creating greater
understanding and protection
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of these mountain ghosts is needed
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to prevent them from
disappearing entirely.