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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.