Snow leopards (or snow panthers) live in the remote mountain ranges of Central Asia;
steep slopes, freezing temperatures and low oxygen make it difficult for scientists trying to study them in the wild.
However, thanks to a combination of camera traps and GPS tracking, we are beginning to get an idea of the behavior of these felines.
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lonely cats
Snow leopards are solitary nomads who spend their days prowling the mountain ranges in search of food.
On this difficult terrain, prey is rare, and each feline patrols a territory of several hundred kilometers.
They are most active at dawn and dusk and move about their land frequently.
The scarcity of food in these desolate regions pushes the felines into the same hunting grounds, and individual territories overlap.
Confrontation between snow leopards is dangerous and can lead to fatal injuries.
In order to keep their distance, felines therefore leave scent marks behind them, warning others of their presence and telling them to stay away.
They are skilled hunters and agile climbers.
Their buff fur is covered in gray or brown rosettes that allow them to camouflage themselves among rock faces.
They use the terrain to their advantage, preferring steep slopes for hunting and using their 1 m long tail to balance themselves.
fearsome hunters
Snow leopards feed primarily on ungulates such as ibexes, goats and wild sheep, but will also prey on large prey, such as Bactrian camels and yaks, or small creatures such as hares or pheasants.
When hunting, they attack by surprise, remaining low on the ground among the rocks.
On these slopes, there are few exits, and if the snow leopard manages to get close enough, the pursuit will be short.
The feline only needs one prey every 10 to 15 days to survive.
They often attack from above, using gravity to accelerate hard as they descend down slopes.
These expert carnivores also eat plants, especially the hardy shrubs of the Myricaria family.
When hunting, they attack by surprise, remaining low on the ground among the rocks.
On these slopes, there are few exits, and if the snow leopard manages to get close enough, the pursuit will be short.
The feline only needs one prey every 10 to 15 days to survive.
They often attack from above, using gravity to accelerate hard as they descend down slopes.
These expert carnivores also eat plants, especially the hardy shrubs of the Myricaria family.
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