00:00Hello, in today's analysis we are going to talk about one of the most mysterious and rare cats in the world.
00:06about one
00:07Yes, we are talking about the snow leopard.
00:11It is often called the ghost of the mountains and the reason for this is that it is not easily visible to anyone.
00:17come
00:17This is no ordinary cat, but a magnificent hunter that lives in the most remote and isolated places in the world.
00:24reigns over
00:25So, without further ado, let us explore the physical structure of this amazing creature, its unique hunting methods and its
00:31Understand some of the deepest mysteries of existence
00:34Let's start with a very shocking statistic.
00:38twenty thousand feet
00:40Just imagine, hyenas live at higher altitudes than any other cat species in the world.
00:48These creatures live in the vast and high mountain ranges of Central Asia at altitudes up to 20,000 feet above sea level.
00:55But live happily
00:56At such a height that even breathing becomes a struggle.
01:00Their entire empire is in ruins there.
01:02Isn't it amazing?
01:04Now it's not just about height.
01:06The place this cat considers its home
01:09The weather there is very harsh
01:11In these high mountains, temperatures can drop to as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
01:16bone-chilling cold
01:18Such freezing temperatures can prove fatal for any common creature.
01:24But our snow leopards not only endure this terrible cold
01:28In fact, they also hunt there with full agility.
01:31So let's move on to our first part: Internal Adaptation: Surviving in Thin Air
01:37At such a height, the air is very thin and the cold is so intense.
01:42To survive there, their bodies have evolved some remarkable changes.
01:47See, their nasal passages are quite wide.
01:50Its advantage is that when it draws in icy and dry air
01:55So the air gets heated naturally before it reaches the fans.
02:00Apart from this, their throat is very large due to which they take in maximum air with each breath.
02:06are able to take
02:07And the most interesting thing is that the blood cells in their blood are smaller in size but more in number than those in common cats.
02:14have too many red blood cells
02:18This ability helps them absorb oxygen into their body even in environments where there is no oxygen in the air.
02:24is merely nominal
02:25Now let's move on to the second part: physical characteristics, cold-resistant structures.
02:31Now let's take a look at the density of their hair.
02:36There are approximately 1300 hairs per square inch on a human head.
02:41But if we talk about Himalayan birds, they have about 26,000 hairs per square inch on their body.
02:48Yes, 26,000
02:50They have the densest fur of all cats.
02:53They have a stocky body, a short snout, and a slightly domed forehead.
02:58Everything has been perfectly engineered for this icy desert.
03:03Their dense fur, 5 to 12 cm long, acts as a natural blanket for them.
03:09Which does not allow the body heat to escape at any cost
03:13And their big claws are a different matter altogether.
03:16These broad and spindly paws act like natural snowshoes when walking on snow.
03:24Are
03:25This distributes their weight so that they can glide easily over the snow rather than sinking into it.
03:31Let's go
03:31Not only this, there are hairs on the lower part of their paws also.
03:36I think this extra fur gives them better grip on steep and slippery rocks.
03:42It also protects your feet from freezing while walking on ice.
03:45Now maintaining balance on these steep and dangerous rocks is a matter of life and death.
03:51And this is where counterweights come in handy.
03:54Counterweight means a weight that balances another opposite weight.
04:00Just like a rope walker uses a long rod for balance
04:07This concept connects us to the most magnificent and important part of the snow leopard's body.
04:13And that special part is their tail.
04:16This thick and long tail can grow up to 90 percent of their total body length.
04:22When they are chasing prey and have to make sudden turns or walk up steep slopes
04:28So this punch acts as a perfect counter weight.
04:46Nimble hunters move with precision over the rocks
04:50Just imagine that scene
04:53It is early morning and a lone hunter is moving silently among the steep, rugged rocks.
05:00Is
05:00Hunting in the mountains is very different and difficult from hunting in the plains.
05:06Hunting here often means jumping from one height to another.
05:20Their front legs are slightly shorter, which helps them to run suddenly and quickly.
05:31Are
05:32And this figure of his jump is really shocking.
05:35fifty feet
05:37With the strength of its extremely strong hind legs, snow leopards can easily cover distances of up to fifty feet in a single leap.
05:44can be done from
05:45For the sake of understanding, let me tell you that this distance is approximately seven hundred times more than the length of his own body.
05:51Using this amazing speed and long jump, they aim at their prey with absolute precision.
05:57Talking about their food, their menu includes wild animals like Himalayan Blue Sheep, Siberian Ibex, Tahr and Marmot.
06:05Animals are involved
06:06Interestingly, an adult Hintendwa kiwi hunts a blue sheep for about two weeks.
06:13can survive on it for
06:15They take the prey to a safe place and eat it comfortably.
06:19But there is a problem as well, sometimes domestic animals are also included in this diet list and this has a direct impact on the
06:25This means that these cats often come close to human settlements in search of food.
06:30This is where the fourth part of our discussion begins: Growing Sensitivity: A Threat to Existence
06:37Unfortunately, these ghosts of the mountains are facing a very serious crisis today.
06:43It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
06:47Their population is very scattered throughout the world and is rapidly decreasing.
06:52Look at this table, their population is highest in China and Mongolia.
06:57Where according to the 2016 estimate there were about 4500 and 1000 leopards
07:02But according to the new data of 2024, only 718 snow leopards are left in India.
07:09This number is even lower in Kyrgyzstan and Russia.
07:12Overall, there are probably fewer than 8,000 snow leopards left in the wild.
07:18There are many big and serious reasons behind their decreasing numbers.
07:22The biggest threat is illegal hunting for their skin and bones.
07:26They are in great demand in the black market.
07:29Due to its lava, carbon dioxide emissions and global warming, the temperature of the mountains is increasing.
07:34And the tree line, the limit up to which trees grow, is constantly shifting upwards.
07:39It is estimated that in the future, their natural habitat, which is called the Alpine Zone, will
07:45Can shrink up to 30 percent
07:47And obviously, their natural habitat is being destroyed by human activities.
07:52Now let's come to our fifth part: the struggle for co-existence, the shepherds and the leopards.
07:58See, when there is less living space, conflict is bound to happen.
08:03We have to understand this entire situation from both perspectives and without any bias.
08:08On the one hand, what is happening is that the natural prey of leopards is decreasing due to overgrazing and hunting.
08:15have been
08:16In such a situation, in order to survive, snow leopards resort to hunting domestic animals like goats and sheep.
08:22On the other hand, think about the local herders for whom these animals are their only livelihood.
08:29a part of their livelihood
08:44And now we come to our final part, the protection position, protecting the ghost. This entire position
08:52Efforts are underway at many levels to manage snow leopards. Snow leopards are legally listed on the Appendix of the CITES
08:58is placed in one of whose
09:10In realities on the ground, simply enacting laws is not enough. The most effective approach is community-based conservation.
09:18Conservation. This simply means involving local people in the rescue operation.
09:37forest
09:38Only when we see conservation as a benefit can we make a real difference on the ground.
09:44Today, both humans and nature are fighting for their existence on the peaks.
10:02The biggest
10:06You will find that the ghosts of the mountains will roam freely in these valleys for centuries to come. This is such a serious
10:13This is a question we all need to consider. Thank you so much for joining us in this discussion.
10:17Thank you.
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