SNOW LEOPARD
The
endangered Snow Leopard is the most beautiful and rarest of all
the big cats, and is found at high altitudes in and around the Himalayas
and summers in the Tibetan Highlands. Their long, thick, beautifully
marked fur protects them from the harsh weather of their remote
mountain home. A Snow Leopard has a cushion of hair on the underside
of its paws which not only keeps its feet warm, but also spreads
its weight and helps it to run across snow without sinking too deeply.
Leaps of 45 feet (15 metres) have been observed. The Snow Leopard
resembles the big cats in size but have many characteristics of
smaller cats, they cannot roar but purr and feed in a crouched position
as do domestic cats. A solitary animal, although males and females
hunt together during the mating season, its survival is threatened
by illegal fur trappers. Snow Leopard pelts are highly prized by
the mountain people and skins are still regularly seen on sale in
Kashmir.
The 'Exotica Collection' wildlife design portrays
the beauty of the lovely and seldom seen Snow Leopard surrounded by blue poppies that grow in the Himalayan snow.
Exotica Collection |
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