Baatar and Shan – the snowleopards in Orsa

Feb 1st, 2012 | By | Category: Featured articles

1.2.2012 – Photos by Anders Björklund, Orsa Grönklitt

There are two snow leopards in Orsa:

Baatar, a female born in 2008, came in May 2011 from a zoo in Spain and Shan, a male born in 2010 who came to Orsa in November 2011 from a zoo in France.

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Some facts about snowleopard – Phantera unica unica:

Snow leopards are medium sized cats, 120-150 cm (plus 1 m tail) 60-70 cm male 45-55 kg, male 35-40 kg. The coat is just gray / yellow with dark spots. It is lighter almost white on stomach and throat. They have large paws that act as snowshoes, and have a thicker denser coat to withstand cold and cold climates. They have a strong and very long tail. It can also be used as protection for the eyes and nose in extreme weather.

Snow leopard lives in the Central Asian mountain ranges, Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It is said that there are between 3500 and 7000 snow leopards in 12 countries but with 60% of the total population in China. Snow leopards are difficult to take stock of where they live in very inaccessible environment.

There are about 600 snow leopards in zoos around the world.

Snow leopards are carnivores and their diet consists mostly of wild sheep and goats, deer, gazelles, wild boars, hares, birds, rodents. They hunt by stalking or surprise their prey.

Snow leopard is a real loner, it goes to himself over huge areas in the mountains of Central Asia in search of prey. They are nocturnal and are very good in the dark, snow leopard mark territory with urine marking and scratching

Unlike the other big cats the snow leopard can not roar.

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12 comments
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  1. mervi February 1st, 2012 8:08 am

    Dear Anders,

    Once again it was a great pleasure for me to publish your eminent photos in our magazine!

    Baatar and Shan look gorgeous in the beautiful Winter landscape. I hope I will see them next time I visit Orsa. Last time they chose not to show for visitors – maybe because it was a hot Summer day….

    Thank you ever so much!

    Bear hugs from Mervi

  2. Ludmila February 1st, 2012 9:18 am

    Dear Anders, Dear Mervi!
    Thank you for the gorgeous pictures. The snow leopards are beautiful. They enjoy snow :)
    Greetings
    Ludmila

  3. caren February 1st, 2012 10:43 am

    Dear Mervi, Dear Anders!

    thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to beein introduced to these lovely snowleopards. Snowleopards are wonderful animals and one can easily see how well they are in Orsa-Winter-Wonderland.
    Thank you so much for the magnificent pics, they are very much appreciated.
    Right now I feel a strong desire to travel to Grönklitt immediately to be able to see all the beautiful animals live and to enjoy the snow.

    Greetings and Hugs
    caren

  4. AnotherSusan February 1st, 2012 2:34 pm

    Absolutely breathtaking! What beautiful creatures they are…

    Thank you, Mervi, for posting another series of the fantastic photos of Anders Björklund; it is wonderful to see the inhabitants of Orsa through his eyes.

    Hugs,
    Susan

  5. Heidi February 1st, 2012 2:34 pm

    Dear Mervi!
    Dear Anders!

    Thank you very much for these wonderful spectacular photos von the Orsa’s paradise of the beautiful young snow leopards Baatar and Shan into the wonderful deep snow.
    Especially phänomenal is the photo with the snow leopards balancing on the tree trunk.
    I’am very happy.
    The report on the snow leopard is great and informative.

    Love Greetings
    Heidi from Konstanz

  6. crissi February 1st, 2012 3:20 pm

    Dear Anders

    Once again many thanks for your beautiful photos of the snow leopards!

    Liebe Mervi

    Es ist schön, dass wir hier immer exclusiv mit Fotos aus Orsa beliefert werden. :)

    Herzliche Grüsse
    Crissi

  7. Christine Chinni February 1st, 2012 4:19 pm

    Dear Mervi and Anders,

    Thank you for sharing this report and pictures of these magnificent animals!

    LG, Christine

  8. sarsam February 2nd, 2012 1:20 am

    Dear Mervi, Dear Anders,

    Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful photos of Baatar and Shan–they are so gorgeous! They look healthy and happy!

    Hugs, Sarsam

  9. Dumba February 2nd, 2012 9:22 am

    Thank you, dear Anders BJÖRKLUND for more of your splendid photos. Thank you as well for the additional information on those snow leopards. It’s amazing their weight is such low! And also that they are unable to roar! Looking forward to your next post!

    Thank you, dear Mervi for also publishing this article – our most BUSY BEE!

  10. Teddybärenmutti February 2nd, 2012 5:07 pm

    Dear Anders!

    Thank you so much for wonderful Photos and Information.

    Dear Mervi!

    Thank you very much.

    Hugs

    TBM

  11. Brigitte_Muc February 4th, 2012 9:06 am

    Dear Mervi
    Dear Anders

    Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful Snow Leopard Photos.

    Greetings from Brigitte

  12. Inge aus Cph February 4th, 2012 10:31 pm

    Dear Mervi and dear Anders.

    Thank you for the report and the most wonderful pictures.

    Greetings from Inge