Snow Leopard — Felis uncia Schreb. (in Kyrgyz: Ilbirs)
In Kyrgyzstan, the snow leopard is found in almost all mountain ranges, where it inhabits the belt of alpine meadows, treeless cliffs, and snowfields. Only in winter, when a thick layer of snow covers the slopes of the mountains and alpine meadows, do snow leopards descend to lower altitudes. All movements of snow leopards in winter, as well as in summer and other seasons, are mainly associated with the movements of ibex, which are their primary food source. In winter, snow leopards are also found in the coniferous forest belt, where they hunt for roe deer.
Due to the rather elusive lifestyle of snow leopards, determining their population is quite difficult. However, sightings of snow leopards and their tracks in the mountains during winter have occurred, albeit rarely. This gives us some reason to believe that snow leopards are scarce in Kyrgyzstan.
In winter, snow leopards are quite rarely seen during the day, although they are primarily active at dusk and at night.
Like all cats, snow leopards love to frolic and play with each other. Such games can last quite a long time if the players are not frightened. The games of young snow leopards are particularly interesting.
The biology of reproduction is poorly studied. There is quite contradictory data on this issue. For instance, G. A. Novikov suggests that the mating season may occur in winter or early spring, with gestation lasting 90-100 days. B. A. Kuznetsov provides data indicating that the female gives birth to cubs in May. The materials available to us indicate the appearance of young in late May and mating in March, the latter being confirmed by the capture of a female in March, which had a significantly swollen and red vulva. During this same time, courtship behavior was observed among snow leopards. The female usually gives birth to three to four cubs, which live with their parents throughout the winter. During this time, young snow leopards master the art of hunting and can later hunt for food independently. The parents are very protective of their cubs while they are with them. The female usually makes her den in places that are difficult for humans to access, typically in caves, under overhanging rocks, or under stone slabs, with no bedding present. In the Tian Shan mountains, one hunter found a snow leopard den with three cubs in a rock crevice in June.
The primary food sources for snow leopards are ibex, roe deer (more often in winter), and occasionally argali. They also eat marmots and, apparently, occasionally narrow-skulled voles and pika. At night, they may catch snowcocks. There are numerous documented cases of snow leopards attacking sheep and foals in winter on seasonal pastures.
The snow leopard usually ambushes its prey on migration paths and then swiftly catches it with one or several powerful leaps. The movements of the snow leopard are swift, with jumps sometimes reaching 10-15 meters, and it is rare for anyone to escape from such a leap. The snow leopard's great physical strength allows it to quickly subdue its prey. Generally, snow leopards do not scavenge and do not approach dead animals.
Snow leopards have no natural enemies, except for humans, who occasionally hunt or trap them alive.
The snow leopard is considered a valuable and rare representative of Kyrgyz fauna, and the most effective conservation measures have been implemented for it. Hunting in Kyrgyzstan has been prohibited since 1948, and since 1959, legal responsibility has been established for hunting and trapping without licenses. It is listed in the International Red List and Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Since 1975, it has been included in the List of specially protected species of Kyrgyzstan.
Snow Leopard / Ilbirs / Snow Leopard
