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St. Brigid’s  has adopted a Snow Leopard and the whole school is learning all about them.

Here are a few interesting facts:

• The Scientific name for a snow leopard is Unica unica.

• The male  is called a leopard, the female is called a leopardess and the baby is called a cub.

• Snow Leopards live in the mountains of Central Asia including the Himalayan Mountains in the countries of Nepal, India, Pakistan, Mongolia, China Afghanistan and Russia.

• They are carnivores which means they eat meat. They will hunt prey up to three times the size of their own body weight. They like to eat blue sheep and mountain ibex.  They will also eat wild sheep and goats, birds and other small animals.

• Snow leopards have light green or gray eyes, unusual for big cats, who usually have yellow or gold eyes.

• They vary in color from cream to a pale yellow, light tan or light grey color. They have rosettes which are rose-like shaped spots. These spots can range in color from dark grey to black and are smaller on their head, legs and tail and larger on their body. No two snow leopards have the same rosette pattern. This pattern helps to camouflage them from their prey.

• Snow Leopards weight between 60-120 pounds. They have thick fur to keep them warm in their cold climate. They have very large paws that are covered in fur and act as snowshoes and keep them from sinking into the snow. 

• They are about 2 feet tall from paw to shoulder and are 3 feet-4.5 feet long not including their tail. Their tails are 2.5 feet to 3.5 feet long and are long, thick and flexible to help them keep balance. Their tails also stores fat to keep them warm. When snow leopards are sleeping they wrap their tails around their bodies like a blanket.

• Snow Leopards can jump up to 50 ft. They can run at speeds between 40-50 miles per hour but only for a short distance.

• Snow Leopards a solitary animals meaning they like to live alone. They use urine to mark their territories and attract mates.

• Snow Leopards cannot roar but they make other sounds such as growling, chuffing, hissing and meowing.

• They are mammals. A mother snow leopard gives birth to 2-3 cubs. Cubs are born helpless and blind. They begin to see after 7 days. Cubs live with their mothers for up to two years before going off to live alone.

• Snow leopards are an endangered species. Estimated numbers in the wild range from 3,500 – 7,000. Humans are the major threat to the snow leopard species. Poachers (illegal hunters) kill snow leopards for their thick fur and bones to use in cultural medicines. Loss of habitat also contributes to the decline in snow leopard populations.