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Eye of the Predator
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
SNOW LEOPARD
Description
This shot was taken 3 months ago in korkeasaari zoo in Helsinki finland.
Range and Habitat
Snow leopards inhabit the mountainous regions and alpine meadows of China, Nepal, Pakistan, India, Russia, and Afghanistan.
Physical Appearance
The snow leopard is a pantherine cat, but is not considered one of the great cats because it cannot roar. Males are significantly larger then the females. They have thick long fur that is between 1-2 inches long all over, shorter on the back, and longer on the belly. Dark black rosettes and spots flank its light grey to light cream-colored fur. Their fur color becomes lighter in the winter. Snow leopards have a stocky body set on very short legs, which is odd for a non-arboreal cat because these are the physical characteristics of an arboreal cat. It has a very long, heavily furred tail, and large paws. Their hind legs are longer than their front legs, similar to the lynx, which is an adaptation to living in areas of thick snow. Their head is more rounded, and they are smaller than true leopards (Panthera pardus).
Diet
Snow leopards stalk their prey like other leopards, and strangle them like cheetahs. They eat the Marco Polo sheep, wild goats, ibex, Siberian tahr, blue sheep, marmots, and picas.
Threats
The snow leopard has most likely never been very common throughout its range, due to the harsh enviromnent in which it lives. They are endangered, with an estimated 4000-7000 left in the wild. It is speculated that it is more towards the lower end. They are endangered due to hunting for their fur and body parts, and eating poisoned marmots and pikas. Livestock owners kill them as they see them as a threat. They are protected in India and Russia.
(This is the same image that I posted before just with a different tone)
Hope you like it.
denka |
sAner, Libor, coasties has marked this note useful
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- sAner
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1648 W: 79 N: 1438]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(4742) - [2005-10-08 12:57]
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Eye of the beholder! - that would have been a great title aswell. This is an amazing picture. I really like it. Great composition, excellent POV and very sharp details. Exposure is spot on. Well done & TFS!
Regards,
Pieter
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- Libor
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 176 W: 1 N: 25]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-s.gif)
(1101) - [2005-10-08 14:27]
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wauuuu :o)
I like it very much :o)
Beutiful colors
very nice portrait :o)
thanks for sharing
Regards Libor (CZ)
Hi Dennis,
what a wonderful photo, I like your b/w image together with blue. Interesting detail with good background, realy impressing, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda
A little too much postprocessing, not a bad image but not a horror movie cover either
Hi Dennis
I like the first post of this shot better. The blue hue doesn't really suit this in my opinion where as your first post is stunning. TFS.
![Silver Note Writer [C: 2 W: 0 N: 39]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/n-n-s.gif){kind=small}
