Snow leopards are just phenomenal animals.
Nicknamed the “Ghost of the Mountains” they are one of the most elusive predators in the entire world, they have learned to survive in some of harshest environments on Earth.
Native to the mountain regions of Asia, you can find snow leopards in countries like China, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, and more, however since they inhabit such difficult and hazardous terrain, the full extent of their range, or population, isn’t fully known.
With numbers estimated to be between 2,500 and 5,000, they are just hard to find, and even harder to study.
Snow leopards primarily prey upon the blue sheep (also known as a bharal) in the Himalayas, in addition to the mountain ibex which can be found across most of their range. They also eat deer, wild goats known as markhors, urial (a mountain sheep), as well as smaller mammals like marmots and hares.
They actually have specialized warming sinuses, large (snow shoe-like) paws, and very dense fur, to help them survive and hunt in the coldest of temperatures.
And when it comes to hunting, they’re damn good at it.
They can run at top speeds of 40 miles per hour across steep mountain terrains, and jump across cliff gaps spanning up to 50 feet. I mean, we’re talking about freak athleticism here.
Here we have some photographers in India capturing some stunning footage of a snow leopard on the hunt, stalking a small group of urial (a kind of mountain sheep).
Seconds after the sheep thuds against the ground, kicking from a likely a fractured spine, the snow leopard is already in for the kill, firmly clamping down on the throat.
If you’ve ever done any mountain or hill running, you know how hard your momentum can get going downhill, and how difficult it can be to maintain your balance, at even a fraction of the speed seen here.
Nevertheless, these skillful hunters have mastered the terrain without a second thought.
If there is a more impressive animal in the world, I’m not sure I’ve seen it.
Also props to the guys behind the camera… excellent work.