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Rare & Beautiful Pics Of The Snow Leopard

ngm.nationalgeographic.com — Gorgeous animals which survive in world's most rugged, desolate Central Asian mountain ranges (e.g., Himalaya, Pamirs, Karakorum, etc.). Snow leopard population is dwindling, facing possible extinction, & extremely difficult to photograph. Great pics here. [If interested, there's also a related article.]

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  • milktea, on 05/19/2008, -2/+39great photos!
    • FuckThaMeme, on 05/19/2008, -1/+6Comment abuse - Here's a clip of the Snow Leopard from the amazing 'Planet Earth' series:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIVcg0eGEsg

      No, not a ***** Rick Roll.
      • flipper5311, on 05/19/2008, -0/+2I've watched this docu and it is very stunning,especially the part where it hunt for its prey at the sloppy mountain
      • cupid311, on 05/19/2008, -0/+3Yes the Planet Earth series is amazing, Especially watching on a HDTV on Bluray. Simply breathtaking. If you haven't seen it then rent or buy it. You won't regret it. Either DVD or Bluray version.
    • peterjmag, on 05/19/2008, -4/+3Photoshopped. I can tell by the pixels and seeing many 'shops in my time.
  • sbeforesunrise, on 05/19/2008, -13/+6very nice photos inspiring, I added it to stumbleupon.
  • CenturionMonkey, on 05/19/2008, -1/+27Great set of photos. Wow their tail is so long. Such a majestic animal, they are endangered are they not?
    • kterrance, on 05/19/2008, -4/+10Very. I believe there are under 100 left, possibly as little as 30 although they are so hard to find I'm not sure how they count them.
    • Zera, on 05/19/2008, -0/+4They live in such hostile climate areas that there are almost no people around, for hundreds of miles in any direction, and that bodes well for their survival.

      It took the Planet Earth crew 7 weeks in separate locations endlessly watching to finally find a single den of one mother and one cub that they were then able to film hunting wild goats.
    • NEUTRINO50, on 05/19/2008, -1/+3around 10 000 (which isn't many)
    • REsplin, on 05/19/2008, -0/+4The total wild population of the Snow Leopard is estimated at between 4,000 and 7,500 individuals. In addition, there are 600-700 animals in zoos around the world.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_Leopard

      few more than 30, kterrance
      • Zera, on 05/19/2008, -0/+3Interesting that someone is burying you. Would Diggers rather that every pretty creature was endangered? Who buries relevant information with citations?
    • mlevinq, on 05/19/2008, -0/+3I was amazed at the length of their tails, too. I think they must need such long tails for balance in such a severe and mountainous environment.
      • Kzoo, on 05/19/2008, -0/+2Exactly. You might notice cats with shorter tails tend to hang around on the ground more, living generally in more open areas [one exception being cheetahs, who use it to help in steering at speed]. Cats with longer tails tend to be forest dwellers or otherwise frequent climbers.
    • GreenGrassyNoel, on 05/19/2008, -0/+2rtf-captions
  • chkdg8, on 05/19/2008, -1/+23Damn it, how gorgeous is that animal?
  • EllieElliott, on 05/19/2008, -4/+1wowo thanks!
    • diggrnumber1, on 05/19/2008, -0/+2i remember they were voted as our "class mascot" in 1st grade. the other classes had dinosaurs and crocodiles - we had a snow leopard. someone's parents bought a stuffed animal snow leopard and it was kept in the front of the class.
  • foxhaze, on 05/19/2008, -12/+2I think I hit one of those with my car today...
  • oooCPRooo, on 05/19/2008, -1/+106Why is there a seal in the description image...
    • Surferess, on 05/19/2008, -1/+11Because when you submit an article sometimes you don't get proper thumbnail choices. No doubt that is a "Leopard Seal" hence your retrieved thumbnail photo for "leopard" article.
    • hammerpants, on 05/19/2008, -1/+4EXACTLY!
    • Kzoo, on 05/19/2008, -0/+0I thought that strange myself, and was afraid someone got a little confused.
    • dukeochutney, on 05/19/2008, -0/+8om nom nom....some seafood for the mountain cat
  • BeeArePro, on 05/19/2008, -0/+11National Geographic has some of the most amazing photos ever. I remember those days skimming through a NG magazine and just being amazed by some of the photos.
    • Tolzmaniac, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1Like the photos of the naked tribal women?
  • ligyron, on 05/19/2008, -1/+16I JUST WANT TO KISS IT
  • four444, on 05/19/2008, -0/+18That is one handsome kitty.
    • fultron89, on 05/19/2008, -0/+1O god, here it comes........


      That's what she said.


      im sorry.
    • cutchyacokov, on 05/19/2008, -0/+1Bubbles is that you?
  • fudgecakes, on 05/19/2008, -8/+1Looks better in motion:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrZHtGY9qCg
  • mjones77, on 05/19/2008, -0/+20This is another good picture of a snow leopard.http://uploadingit.com/view/616382_w1x42
  • JerodSlay, on 05/19/2008, -0/+12I love their long tails which are used for balancing while running down cliffs. Planet Earth in HD FTW :: only time a snow leopard hunt has ever been videoed.
    • Zera, on 05/19/2008, -0/+6Yep, that Snow Leopard chasing that wild goat was absolutely incredible. Sprinting down a wet and slippery near vertical surface is just one of those things you can't help but be blown away by.
    • thetheaterimp, on 05/19/2008, -0/+4Here is the clip he is referring to of the Snow Leopards on Planet Earth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIVcg0eGEsg
      • Zera, on 05/19/2008, -0/+1Good Find. Skip to 2:00 for the chase. Also, youtube just doesn't do it justice, as Planet Earth was filmed in wide screen 1080P.
        • aelias, on 05/19/2008, -0/+1Wasn't filmed in 1080p. Just upscaled 1080i for the HD format releases. Still looks damn good though.
  • vince916, on 05/19/2008, -2/+7I want to grab its fluffy tail.
    • lazyfisherman, on 05/19/2008, -0/+2This ain't no house cat.
    • cupid311, on 05/19/2008, -0/+4yes, it is tempting. But you would immediately regret that decision.
    • gammamike, on 05/19/2008, -0/+2snowleopard: I'm here alone in the mountains with my parents gone for the weekend, just me and my fluffy tail!
      vince916: I want to grab your fluffy tail.

      Chris Hansen: Why don't you have a seat over there...


  • fudged71, on 05/19/2008, -2/+16thumbnail.
    wat
  • AndrewDB, on 05/19/2008, -0/+4I wish the picture of it walking towards the camera was a higher resolution so you could use it as a desktop. :(
  • lazyfisherman, on 05/19/2008, -4/+9I'd kill 10,000 poachers if it would save one of these magnificent snow leopards.

    Well, actually, the poachers would kill me pretty quick but you get the idea. Amazing cats!!!!!!
    • fultron89, on 05/19/2008, -0/+2I can haz game warden?
    • webdeshel, on 05/19/2008, -0/+1I'd pay a hell of a lot more for poacher skin than for some cat hide. Which do you think is more rare? :-)
  • JTJ1210, on 05/19/2008, -3/+3Those definitely are some rare pics, I haven't been able to find them anywhere, thanks.
  • tweetsa, on 05/19/2008, -1/+6kind of depressing to know these incredible animals will be gone forever in less than 5 years
  • Comms, on 05/19/2008, -1/+2awesome pics. anyone know where to find hi res images of these?
  • DrSnugglebunny, on 05/19/2008, -11/+11I CAN HAZ NO EGGSTINKSHUN PLEEZ?
  • groone, on 05/19/2008, -8/+3Wow, those would make some nice coats!
  • accessviolation, on 05/19/2008, -1/+4What is the thumbnail? A snow leopard seal?
    • MLisa, on 05/19/2008, -0/+3Explanation is way at the top..."#7 Reply"
  • Owned1Up, on 05/19/2008, -2/+2I'm not understanding the seal thumbnail...
  • googooly, on 05/19/2008, -0/+3Check out Planet Earth Blu-ray version section "Mountains". you be amazed
  • slsashrk, on 05/19/2008, -6/+4Damn you... now I'm hungry for snow leopard!
  • Syphonic, on 05/19/2008, -4/+0This site doesn't work in Firefox 3? I'm not getting the pictures :(
    • MrSkrilla, on 05/19/2008, -0/+2you are not using it right. I get the pictures even with my links browser
    • aelias, on 05/19/2008, -0/+1Need flash plug-in installed. I'm using RC1 and it works fine.
    • SSUK, on 05/19/2008, -0/+1It's a Adobe Flash application. You need the Flash Player to view it. If you have it installed, then upgrade. I'm running 10 beta and everything works fine.

      www.adobe.com for upgrade.
    • whalt, on 05/20/2008, -0/+1That's because the snow leopard is the natural predator of the fire fox.
  • WillSunrider, on 05/19/2008, -10/+5Wow.. it's to gorgeous. I wonder if tastes just as good.
  • frostbyt, on 05/19/2008, -8/+2Wow.. it's to wonderful. I wonder if it goes well with ranch dressing.
  • wigginz, on 05/19/2008, -0/+12Horrible pick for the thumbnail, you know that's a seal, right? If anyone wants to see some amazing footage (and extremely rare too) of the Snow Leopard, check out the Mountains episode of Planet Earth. They actually record a failed Snow Leopard attack and then the subsequent kill. Also after the kill the mother has to drag the deer (which probably weights more than herself) all the way up the mountain to bring it to her kid. Amazing sequence, it's probably the best in the whole Planet Earth series, it's the one I remember best anyway.
    • cobracommander, on 05/19/2008, -1/+2Which probably "weights"?

      No wonder they are so strong.
      • wigginz, on 05/19/2008, -0/+2Heh, so does admitting I misspelled it redeem me?
  • quoquo, on 05/19/2008, -0/+2hands down. I love ngm galleries
  • TimeZ, on 05/19/2008, -0/+2Awesome! Loved the cat.
  • thedogfatherx, on 05/19/2008, -0/+2Amazing creatures.
  • joebaloney, on 05/19/2008, -0/+2Tulsa zoo has had one for many years. I didn't know they were rare. I touched it once on a slow day in winter by leaning over the guardrail and petting its fur though the cage.
  • h3lx, on 05/19/2008, -0/+2A couple of those shots look as if they might have been the last shots the photographer ever took...

    -the cat has that "You can run but you'll only die tired" look on it's face.
  • ilibiliz, on 05/19/2008, -3/+0Good pictures. I didn't see any snow though.
    • JAFFA, on 05/19/2008, -0/+1And Harp Seals dont have harps either. ... Waitaminute! ...Perhaps that pic is of a Harp Seal?!?
  • mathwizkid, on 05/19/2008, -0/+1There's also a beautiful pic of a village on the rocks leading to a hole. I'd like to see more of that.

  • h3lx, on 05/19/2008, -0/+6http://www.h3lx.net/farkimages/DIE-TIRED.jpg
  • insonh, on 05/19/2008, -3/+3what no "LASER"?

    come on people, cant i get one frickin "Snow Leopard" with a frickin "LASER" attached to its head?

    on a serious note

    that's one beautiful animal, i hope it eats a fashion designer
  • mlvassallo, on 05/19/2008, -2/+1Thanks for the beautiful, rare and amazing picture of a snow leopard... pissing.
  • insonh, on 05/19/2008, -0/+8Two guys are hiking thought the mountains of Afghanistan when they spot a hungry looking Snow Leopard 200 yards away coming at them at full speed.

    One guy turns to the other and says

    Do you think we’ll be able to outrun that Snow Leopard?

    To which the other guy replies

    Nope, but I'm pretty sure I’ll be able to outrun you.
    • bandomac, on 05/19/2008, -0/+4That is why it is always good to camp with a fat kid.
  • Mpwns, on 05/19/2008, -7/+2no night elf comments?
  • fithanee, on 05/19/2008, -5/+5If someone held me at gun point and told me to have sex with an animal i would pick the snow leaopard............im just sayin.
  • bandomac, on 05/19/2008, -2/+0I think I would like to set up a conservation program where locals could sell their photographs of protected wildlife as a bounty instead of pelts and animal parts. It may provide a financial incentive to keep these animals alive. Anyone have any ideas on how this could be set up?
  • crank001, on 05/19/2008, -5/+1Yes, very cute, but how do they taste?
  • Comms, on 05/19/2008, -0/+2just bought 3 of these pics, well good.
  • MadHarvey, on 05/19/2008, -1/+0I've noticed that many people have chimed in on the fact that the thumbnail is not a snow leopard, but in fact a seal. I am choosing disregard this, pretend that I haven't noticed the other comments, and bring it to everyone's attention yet again. This is an effort to convey that I am both observant and well equipped to differentiate between mountainous cat species and marine mammals. Thank you for your time.
  • cupid311, on 05/19/2008, -2/+1Great pictures, amazing animals. Could have done without all the comments of eating the snow leopard though. Chances are it would eat you first. And i would laugh. And yes Planet Earth series on Bluray is amazing, especially the Snow Leopard part.
  • oo7b0nds, on 05/19/2008, -0/+1i wish i could take photographs like that :(
    what a beautiful animal.
  • RockNRollBeaver, on 05/19/2008, -1/+0Very beautiful shots. I about buried it though for the fact of every time you click the right arrow the annoying ad kept refreshing...no need for that.. dugg!
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