Snow leopard is an endangered species living on the higher reaches of Central Asia. The preferred prey of snow leopards are bharal or blue sheep (Pseudois nayavur) and ibex (Capra sibirica). Both these animals are found in the same range as the snow leopards’, roaming the same treacherous mountain slopes.
Snow leopards are powerful predators capable of killing animals three times their weight. However they also prey on small animals like marmots (Marmota), pikas (Ocholona), hares (Lepus), small rodents and game birds.
A solitary leopard may remain on a kill for up to a week. In the event of food being scarce, snow leopards are known to prey on livestock giving rise to conflict with the locals.
Watch a snow leopard chasing a sheep on the mountain slopes,
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