Snow Leopard
My all-time favourite animal - the beautiful Snow Leopard, today
afforded me some minutes of delight, sitting for photographs in the
best position to avoid the wire cage.
Well, not totally, but largely removed anyway by careful framing,
manual focus and depth of field.
I have not used any post digital trickery to remove the cage from the
shot - though I would love to know how!
It is very frustrating to have such intrusive wire instead of clear
glass.
There are two snow leopards in this enclosure - a bonded pair of male
and female.
The other leopard was just out of shot. I took a few of them together,
but the cage wire was quite intrusive.
There is a third snow leopard at Melbourne Zoo - a young female, but she is not accepted by the older female. So at present she is kept on her own. The long term aim is to breed the male with the young female.
Snow Leopards are highly endangered.
The Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia), sometimes known as the ounce, is a
large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central Asia from
Afghanistan to Lake Baikal and eastern Tibet.
The Snow Leopard cannot roar.
Well known for its beautiful fur, the snow leopard has a whitish-tan
coat with ringed spots of dark, ashy-brown and rosettes of black. Its
tail is heavy with fur and the bottom of its paws are covered with fur
for protection against snow and cold. The life span of a snow leopard
is normally 15-18 years, but in captivity they can live up to 20
years.
Weighing usually 35 to 55 kilograms, the snow leopard is slightly
smaller on average than a leopard. Exceptional large males can weigh
up to 75 kg, very small females weigh only 25 kg.
The head and body length is 100 to 130 cm, the shoulder height is
about 60 cm . The tail measures 80 to 100 cm and is proportionately
longer than in any other cat species of comparable size. It helps to
maintain its balance on the rugged terrain and unstable surfaces of
its habitat and is used to cover its nose and mouth in very cold
conditions. The head of the Snow Leopard is relatively small, however
the male's head is usually much squarer and wider than that of the
female. The big furry feet act as snowshoes, like those of the lynxes.
The snow leopard has gray-and-white thick fur with numerous rosettes
on the flanks and spots on the head and neck.
In summer, the snow leopard usually lives above the tree line on
mountainous meadows and in rocky regions at an altitude of 2.700 to
6000 m. In winter, it comes down into the forests at an altitude of
about 2000 m. It leads largely a solitary life, although mothers can
rear cubs for extended periods of time in cave dens in the mountains.
It is an opportunistic feeder, eating whatever meat it can find and
kills animals three times its size, including domestic livestock. Its
diet consists mainly of ibexes, the Bharal, the Markhor, the Urial,
deer, boars, as well as pikas, marmots and other small rodents.
Melbourne Zoo, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Comments and faves
Queenscents, Let there be light (Andy), métrogirl, gwburke2001, and 96 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Queenscents (52 months ago | reply)
He looks bored..(^-^)Well taken
Have a nice day.
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A Moment of Magic Photography (52 months ago | reply)
I agree that the wiring is so frustrating, particularly with the advances in options for enclosures. Hopefully this is something that the Melbourne Zoo will look at in future upgrades.
I think you've captured this well under the circumstances. Look at those stunning eyes. Such a wonderful big cat.
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Let there be light (Andy) (52 months ago | reply)
Beautiful look at this great animal.
memoryman35 (52 months ago | reply)
Nice Job Ian.
Nicolas Valentin (52 months ago | reply)
This is my Fave from
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mozartme (52 months ago | reply)
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this photo.
belle_fleur ( barely here) (52 months ago | reply)
This brilliant photo is like a shooting star,
totally inspiring!
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JayaPeg (52 months ago | reply)
nice shot. keep on doing this and enjoy it.
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métrogirl (52 months ago | reply)
Perfection...
the only place I want to see sexy fur...on gorgeous animals...
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ஐ♥S๑mmeя βяeeZe♥ஐ (52 months ago | reply)
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this photo.
Debbie Cakes (52 months ago | reply)
Congratulations, E x c e l l e n t!
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What an interesting cat.
Gen-esis Photography (52 months ago | reply)
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Congratulations, E x c e l l e n t!
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gwburke2001 (52 months ago | reply)
Beautiful capture !!
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Steve's Reflections (52 months ago | reply)
Great image!
Rachel Watford (52 months ago | reply)
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daisymaebear - (52 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Nature at its Best, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Beautiful and sad. Beautiful because it is and sad because it might not be. Great portrait.
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linustein (52 months ago | reply)
Congratulations, E x c e l l e n t!
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wonderful
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ènfin (Verna) (52 months ago | reply)
Sensational photograph...
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Queenscents (52 months ago | reply)
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Queenscents (52 months ago | reply)
This photo deserves a DIGIFOTO Pro Award, please join the group to compete for real prizes
law_keven (52 months ago | reply)
Global Village 2 (post 1 - give a globe to 5)
ènfin (Verna) (52 months ago | reply)
Sensational photograph...
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digitalART2 (52 months ago | reply)
Your Wonderful Picture Was Seen In ...
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Mishari Al-Reshaid Photography (52 months ago | reply)
Nice capture! the expression is really awesome!
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Shoeless Joe/64 (52 months ago | reply)
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digbytoast (52 months ago | reply)
Wonderful shot -- I too love the Snow Leopards.
We have two cubs at the Toronto zoo -- born in June/07 -- they are a delight to watch.
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Superb shot.
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AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!
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Jennie Anderson (52 months ago | reply)
Wonderful
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gorgeous
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bellissima
Queenscents (52 months ago | reply)
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Diane G....Thanks for over 50,000 Views.... (52 months ago | reply)
Fantastic shot.
Bravo!
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I saw this great photograph
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Beautiful shot
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beautiful shot lovely detail
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