A three-year camera trapping study has confirmed year-round presence and breeding activity of snow leopards in Jammu & Kashmir, especially the significance of Kishtwar Himalayas.
About Snow Leopard:
It is a medium-sized big cat that resides in the rugged terrains of Central and South Asia. It is adapted to living in a cold, mountainous environment.
It is known as the ‘ghost of the mountains’.
Distribution:
It prefers steep, rugged terrains with rocky outcrops and ravines and are usually found at an elevation of 3,000-5,000 metres or higher in the Himalayas.
They are found in 12 countries, including China, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Russia, and Mongolia.
In India, they can be largely found in the high-altitude cold, arid, and rugged terrains of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Features of Snow Leopard:
The snow leopard’s pale grey fur is marked with dark rosettes, serving as camouflage against rocky terrains.
The snow leopard reaches a length of about 7 feet (2.1 meters). Almost half of that length is the tail.
The tail helps to provide balance when the cat climbs in mountainous terrain and warmth when the cat sleeps.
The snow leopard is solitary and lives alone except when mating or raising offspring.
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