Voices - Snow Leopard - Giclee Edition

This image captures a moment in time amidst the mountainous terrain when the chill wind brings the threat of human voices to this cautious Snow Leopards attention. His keen gaze has transfixes and pauses his hunt, to determine if he has now become the hunted.

Snow leopards have evolved to live in some of the harshest conditions on Earth. Their thick white-gray coat spotted with large black rosettes blends in perfectly with Asia’s steep and rocky, high mountains. Because of their incredible natural camouflage, rendering them almost invisible in their surroundings, snow leopards are often referred to as the “ghost of the mountains.” The snow leopard’s powerful build allows it to scale great steep slopes with ease. Its hind legs give the snow leopard the ability to leap six times the length of its body. A long-tail enables agility, provides balance and wraps around the resting snow leopard as protection from the cold. For millennia, this magnificent cat was the king of the mountains. The mountains were rich with their prey such as blue sheep, Argali wild sheep, ibex, marmots, pikas, and hares. The snow leopard’s habitat range extended across the mountainous regions of 12 countries across Asia. Sadly, with only 4,500-6,000 Snow Leopards estimated remaining in the wild they have been listed on the endangered species list.