Snow Leopards Photographed for the 1st Time in Uzbekistan

Yahoo News ^ | Jan. 15, 2014 | Megan Gannon

[Anton.Rutter]

A camera trap snapped the first-ever pictures of the elusive snow leopard in Uzbekistan. Even better, it caught not one, but two of the endangered cats on camera.

The new images of the cats released by conservation groups Panthera and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) confirm that there are at least two individual snow leopards in the Gissar Nature Reserve, a protected part of the Pamir Mountains that can be visited only for scientific research.

Uzbekistan, which is about the size of California, is one of 12 countries in Asia where snow leopards still roam through rugged mountainous terrain. It's estimated that only 3,500 to 7,000 of the endangered cats are left in the wild.

[Anton.Rutter]

Here's hoping they're having a candlelight dinner and making little snow leopards ;)

[Andyman]

Top pic: Flash goes off
Bottom pic: Both leopards run away from the flash

[Sacajaweau]

I remember that country from the game of RISK...

Bet Putin has a picture of one from years ago in the same country on the wall in one of his hunting cabins.

[Gefn]

Snow leopard kitty ping

Because every house cat dreams of being a big cat

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Pretty awesome photo - sightings of these cats are reportedly extremely rare anywhere.

[JoeProBono]

[Black Agnes]

Ping.

[Puppage]

I took my cat to the vet recently. The doctor asked him if he was sleeping ok. He said, well about 17 hours a day. So the doctor gave him something for the insomnia./sarxc

[CatherineofAragon]

"Here's hoping they're having a candlelight dinner and making little snow leopards ;)"

2nd that. :)

[CatherineofAragon]

"Because every house cat dreams of being a big cat"

A lot of them THINK that's what they are, LOL.

[FroggyTheGremlim]

We got one of 'em at the Pittsburgh Zoo.

Beautiful animal!

[Gefn]

I love this quote. “ G-d made the cat so that man could know the pleasure of caressing a tiger”

[Slings and Arrows]

Because every house cat dreams of being a big cat

---

[Silentgypsy]

So beautiful! Thank you!

[Slings and Arrows]

Snow kittehs had better watch out for...Uzbeks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hCCCRAcTAA

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

The best way to replenish endangered animals is *not* to sanctuary them, because their current environment is not good for them, but to breed them for release.

Optimally, you breed too many for release, figuring that attrition will be higher. But the captive bred will be healthier, stronger, with fewer parasites and diseases, and will improve the wild stock.

Meanwhile, in the area you plan to release them, breed and release more of their primary food animals and plants, so that they are somewhat overpopulated. This is part of a natural cycle that normally results in more predators, giving the captive bred animals a good season to get started.

[MeshugeMikey]

"Snow leopard in my country ??"

[CatherineofAragon]

"I love this quote. “ G-d made the cat so that man could know the pleasure of caressing a tiger”

I love that!

[Slings and Arrows]

"Snow leopard in my country ??"

It's more likely than you think!

[If you recognize that meme, you're been hanging out on the wrong side of Teh Interwebs.]

[MeshugeMikey]

I couldnt hep myself its MICHELLES BIRTHDAY!!