Snow+Leopard+Period+6

**Group Members:** Anna P., Jasmine M.
 * How Will We Work Together: ** Anna will work mainly on the wiki . Jasmine will work mainly on the research, but we each did some of the research and wiki.We worked together at school on the Google Earth tour.
 * Research:**

1. Where does your animal live, and what are its characteristics?

-In the mountains of central Asia and Indian subcontinent.  -In the Tibetan highlands. -Also in forest scrub areas.**
 * A wild snow leopard lives:

(Where does it live? Does it migrate?)


 * Snow Leopards usually live in mountains so that it can blends in. They choose harsh conditions to be camoflaged. The snow leopard lives in the Tibetan Highlands during the summers, but in winter, they usually move to the valleys.**

Include all subspecies or varieties of your animal


 * -The snow leopard is a single species which belongs to a huge variety of mammals called Felidae. Although the snow leopard does have a sub-genus, it does not have any subspecies.**

Identify at least 10 characteristics that will give an in-depth, accurate description of your animal

** -The snow leopard’s tail is almost as large as its body. -The snow leopard’s fur can grow to about 12 inches on their bellies and is woolly and thick to adapt to its bitterly cold climate and to its habitat. -Its fur helps to blend in with the snow and the mountains because that is where it lives. <span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'ArialMT','sans-serif'">-Its fur is a coat of white or smoky-gray with the pattern of black spots, this helps with camouflage. <span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'ArialMT','sans-serif'">-The snow leopard's big paws help it walk on snow. <span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'ArialMT','sans-serif'">-The leopard's short forelimbs and long hind limbs give the cat agility in its steep and rugged environment. <span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'ArialMT','sans-serif'">-The tail is like a balance tool for walking and climbing from rocks to rocks along the mountainside. <span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'ArialMT','sans-serif'">-Sometimes the snow leopard wraps it's tail around his/hers body to keep warm when resting. <span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'ArialMT','sans-serif'">-The large lungs and chest capacity help to get enough oxygen from the mountain air. Also before the cold air reaches the lungs the enlarged nasal cavity helps warm the air. ** **<span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif">   -The snow leopard is one of the quietest animals when it is moving, which can help it to stock the prey and hunt. Also it is rather easier to sneak away from hunters not being noticed. ** ** -Adult snow leopards can weigh between thirty-five and fifty-five kilograms. -Snow leopards have been reported to be able to leap about fifty feet. -Adults can grow to about 6 to 6 2/3 feet long. -Feed in a crouched position like domestic cats. -Cannot roar but can purr like domestic cats. **

2. Where and why is your animal endangered?

Locate where it is endangered (might not be endangered in all its habitats)


 * -Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Nepal, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan.**

Identify the factors, environmental and/or anthropogenic (caused by man) that cause it to be endangered Provide statistics and other facts related to its endangerment <span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'ArialMT','sans-serif'">
 * -Poaching, Retribution Killings and Conflicts with herders, Habitat and Prey loss, Lack of Awareness, Policy, and Implementation**

3. Where is your animal in captivity and/or conserved? Locate at least two zoos and/or conservation centers where the animal is held. <span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'ArialMT','sans-serif'"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'ArialMT','sans-serif'">-Wild Cat Conservation Center ** <span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'ArialMT','sans-serif'">**-Pakistan Conservation Center** 4. What is being done to restore your animal’s populations? Where is it being done? Locate where research is done on your animal and where efforts are underway to conserve its population (Note: It may be that this is done at the same location(s) you identified in #3) -World Conservation Union, Snow Leopard Trust, countries on list except for the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan. <span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'ArialMT','sans-serif'"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'ArialMT','sans-serif'">-Philadelphia Zoo <span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'ArialMT','sans-serif'">-Wild Cat Conservation Center ** <span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'ArialMT','sans-serif'">**-Pakistan Conservation Center** Identify the experts, leaders, and/or groups guiding the conservation <span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'ArialMT','sans-serif'">
 * -World Conservation Union**
 * <span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'ArialMT','sans-serif'">-Philadelphia Zoo
 * <span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: 'ArialMT','sans-serif'">
 * -Snow Leopard Trust and Website, World Conservation Union, World Wildlife Fund**

Outline any research and efforts to conserve the population I. Snow Leopard Trust -to take most snow leopards and track their movements -to see how the actions of man kind is changing the population**
 * -to stop anybody from hunting snow leopards for their pelts

Images found on [|Flickr]. By [|Tambako the Jaguar], this is a snow leopard cub who is only about eight weeks old.
 * Photos**


 * Videos

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">media type="youtube" key="Gof4EWhRxUA&hl=en" height="355" width="425" media type="youtube" key="qAAqQqoNecM&hl=en" height="355" width="425" media type="youtube" key="xpbIjUKt6wY&hl=en" height="355" width="425" media type="youtube" key="N9mg7MrEKB4&hl=en" height="355" width="425" <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0)">1209431161This last video really spoke to me because it really explains how the Snow Leopard Trust works and saves these endangered cats. If you should watch one of these videos you should watch this one. The snow leopards may only be alive today because of this organization founded by Helen Freeman.1209431161

Bibliography (All Resources Used)**

**[|http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar516840&st=snow+leopard]** **http://library.thinkquest.org/J001797/leopard.html** **http://go.grolier.com/ [|http://youtube.com]** **[|http://snowleopard.org] http://animalinfo.org Print Source: World Book 2007 Edition, article author C. Richard Taylor.**