Scientific name:
Uncia

Natural spread:
Asia

the Irbis is leopard-big with a length of approximately 120-150 cm, possesses a round head and wide paws with hairy soles and a very long tail of approximately 90 cm. its long, plush-good fur is sallow-light-gray, in the winter more into the whitish changing. The head usually is spotted in rows; the torso shows to rosette-stains black-gray, scored points or closed. The low part of the tail is incompletely curled.

Occurrences and way of life The Irbis is a pure high mountain region-inhabitant of the central-Asian mountains. it lives in the rhododendron-forests or bamboo-thickets in heights between 2000 m and the snow line there. Frequently, however, one meets it also in the flip-flop-regions or also in tree - and shrub-draws lots areas at. it is probably mainly in freedom meets - and twilight-actively and lives in solid own-districts. Probably, it lives during the year as loners, who visit its sex-partner at the reproductive-time against end of the winter.

Nutrition The snow-leopard catches its loot through waylaying or creeping along and raid-good catch-jump, with what the front-legs solid-claw in the loot-animal and remain the hind legs at the ground. The killing of the loot takes place through neck-bite. As food, game-sheep, Thare, come stags and ibexes, but also boars, gazelles and hares as well as the most different Nager of mouse and marble-size in question. Likewise, birds are not spurned.

Reproduction As virtually pure ground-inhabitant, the Irbis is an amazingly good far-jumper, who masters sentences of 6-15 m without difficulty. In its territories, the snow-leopard uses solid changes between sleep and throw-places as well as silence-places on rock-pre-jumps or powerful branches. The Schneeleopardin puts the throw-places in crevices and - hollows out as well as under big stones at. At the throw-time of the months April until June pads it the cave with moss and other plant-materials as well as with own stomach-wool. After a Tragzeit of 98-103 days, it brings to the world, that 5-6 months will suckle, 1-5 (in the average 2-3) kids. In the birth, the young Irbisse 400-700 g weigh and open the eyes for nacn 7-9 days. They leave the first time the throw-cave with 35 days and eat first solid food with 50-60 days. With approximately 3 years, the boys become sexually mature and arise fully with 4-5 (males) years.

Endangering The snow-leopard is endangered very rare and corresponding. The total-continuance is estimated at only approximately 2000 animals. The type is therefore protected by the Washingtoner Artenschutzübereinkommen.