DaleySnowLeopard

====Snow Leopard  ====

=**__HISTORY__**=

-Family: Felidae
====-"The range of the snow leopard is all of central Asia. This cat has always inhabited all of central Asia, but their range is decreasing everyday due to loss of habitat. This also gives them a smaller range to find their prey which is another major contribution to their endangerment."====

-"Lifespan- Fifteen to Eighteen years."
====-"There is not an exact estimate of how many snow leopards are left in the world, but a rough estimate shows that there are 4,500 to 5,000 of these cats left in the world. The main cause to their small population would be poaching for furs."====

=__Protecting the Snow Leopard__= ====-There are a few laws/programs that have been put in place to protect the snow leopard. One of the main reasons these laws were made, are because the fur on the snow leopard is "considered a trophy" when it comes to hunting. "The fur is used to create full body length pelts, which can be found in central Asia."====

-"The International Snow Leopard Trust was created in Seattle as a non-profit corporation working on conservation of the snow leopard and its mountain habitat."
====-"There are approximately 500 leopards in 150 zoos world-wide. Many zoos are involved in a snow leopard species survival project, a coordinated breeding program among zoos. The goal of this project is to maintain a genetically sound population in hope that these animals may someday be released into the wild."====

-"Other methods of conservation include habitat protection, captive breeding, stiff penalties for those harming them, and public education."
=__The Snow Leopard's Niche__=

-"Sexual maturity is reached at two or three years, and mating occurs between early January and mid-March. Cubs remain with their mother until they are 18-22 months old."
=__Pressures That Have Led to Its Endangerment__=

====-"The Snow Leopard population has increasingly come under pressure as a result of poaching for furs, loss of habitat caused by deforestation and dam projects, and because of the loss of habitat, their food source is becoming more and more scarce."====

=__Citations__=

"Snow Leopard". Animal Planet. 10/13/09 .
