Page 43 - Animals of the Wild April 2017(1)_Neat
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The snow leopard communicates by hisses, chuffing, mews, growls and wailing. The snow leopard
cannot roar.
Snow leopards live in territories but do not defend the territory. The more prey available the smaller
the territory. They mark their territory with urine or scratching the ground.
They are solitary animals but the females can keep the young with them for an extended period.
Mating take place late winter with 2-3 cubs being born between April and June in a rocky den laid
out with fur from the females’ belly. The cubs are born with closed eyes and thick fur. Their eyes
open after 7 days and they can walk after 5 weeks. The cubs leave the den between 2 and 4 months
and become independent between 18-22 months. The young become sexually active between 2 and
3 years. Snow leopards can live up to 18 years in the wild.
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