The snow leopard, or irbis, (Uncia uncia Shreber, 1775) is listed in the IUCN Red List (2000) as "endangered" (the highest protection category is EN C2A). Few had a chance to see this mysterious and peculiar inhabitant of the mountains. Getting to it is not so easy: you need to walk for a long time on steep slopes and deep snow high up - not everyone can do it. Yes, most likely, he will notice the person first and, like a ghost, will disappear behind the mountain range. And when descending, a jump of 15 meters for him is in the order of things. Scientists are in seventh heaven if they get the chance to see a snow leopard, or irbis, in its native habitat.

This typical member of the cat family was previously called a leopard, but this is incorrect. He is not quite a close relative of the leopard, although he looks like him, especially with the same annular and small solid black spots on a smoky gray skin. On the sides of the animal, the general background of coloration is lighter than on the back, and on the stomach and inside legs are white. Occasionally there are black and white leopards.

The fur of the snow leopard is longer than that of the leopard: soft, fluffy and extremely thick. On the stomach reaches 12 centimeters. Irbis do not emit a loud inviting roar, characteristic of large cats, but purr like small ones.

From head to tail, the snow leopard is 140 cm long, the tail itself is 90-100 cm long. If we compare the length of the tail and body, then of all the cats, the snow leopard has the longest tail, it is more than three quarters of the body length. The weight of an adult snow leopard can reach 100 kg. The length of the jump during the hunt is up to 14 meters. The range of the snow leopard includes parts of the territories of 13 states: Afghanistan, Burma, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.


Among large felines, the snow leopard is the only permanent inhabitant of the highlands, personifies the majestic, mysterious and harsh world of the mountains of Central Asia. Occupying the upper trophic level in ecosystems, it can serve as a kind of flagship species in relation to the conservation of the entire animal world of the Central Asian highlands.



The snow leopard is the national symbol of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Also, the image of a leopard is used in the coat of arms of the city of Alma-Ata. A stylized winged snow leopard is depicted on the coats of arms of Khakassia (khak. paris) and Tatarstan (tat. Ak Bars - white leopard), this is the name of the Kazan hockey team. Irbis can also be seen on the emblem of the city of Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic. The Shushensky district of the Krasnoyarsk Territory has an image of a snow leopard on its coat of arms. Writer Nikolai Anov, an employee of the newspaper "Dzhetysuyskaya Iskra", cites a curious case of how a snow leopard descended from the Alatau mountains and made a commotion in new year's eve 1927: “... A spotted leopard climbed into the house of an inhabitant. A riding horse was tethered at the gate. The owner turned it to the owner for a few minutes, and when he left the house, the horse was gone. The leopard, clinging to the horse's mane, raced on an animal distraught with horror through the deserted streets.

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Red is the color of anxiety and approaching danger. In the late 40s of the 20th century, the International Union for Conservation of Nature decided that this particular color should represent the world's cadastre of endangered animals. It will be called that - the Red Book (Red Data Book, - English). The bright color was supposed to attract people's attention to the problem of the disappearance of rare species of plants and animals.

The original material is published on the LIVEN website. Living Asia. The authors of the article are Aidana Toktar kyzy, Gulim Amirkhanova. The artist is Varvara Panyushkina.

The Red Book has since been published in many countries every few years. And more and more often animals get into it, the number of which was large even 20-30 years ago.

In 2014, WWF (World Wildlife Fund) released a report in which a shocking figure was announced - the number of wild animals has halved over the past 40 years. By the way, the number of people on the contrary has doubled from 3.7 billion to 7 billion people.

12 Red Book species are on the verge of extinction in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan.

Some of them are killed because of the beautiful fur, others because of the branched horns, supposedly good for health.

They are killed as pests when they come to a person's dwelling in search of food.

Some of these animals are losing their habitats due to human activities.

Even the golden eagle, a bird that has become a symbol of almost all Central Asian countries, was included in the Red Book.

It's hard to believe - since the mid-80s, the golden eagle has been in the "Rare bird with a declining number" category.

Manul

Manul. Photo: Albinfo

The most unusual cat of the wild steppes. Her feature is round eyes.

This animal has gorgeous fur. And because of him, he is on the verge of extinction.

The fur of manul is fluffy and thick. For one square meter there are 9000 hairs!

Manul has been in the “close to vulnerable” category for many years.

View: Predatory mammal of the cat family.

Habitat: Manul is distributed in Central Asia, from South Transcaucasia and western Iran to Transbaikalia, Mongolia and Northwestern China. In Central Asia, it is found in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

Nutrition: It feeds almost exclusively on pikas and mouse-like rodents, occasionally catching ground squirrels, tolai hares, marmots and birds.

In the summer, when there is no pika, the manul compensates for the lack of food by eating insects.

Peculiarity: Interestingly, in ancient Greek, the name of the manul is Otocolobus manul, which means "ugly ear."

Reproduction: The animal breeds only once a year. This happens between February and March. Pregnancy lasts about 60 days, and kittens are born in April-May, from 2 to 6 individuals.

The exact number of manul has not been determined, but one thing is known - it is on the verge of extinction.

Due to the fact that these animals lead an extremely lonely lifestyle, they do not reproduce in the right numbers.

In addition, the manul suffers at the hands of people: poaching for the sake of fur, traps that are set to catch foxes and hares, but where the manuls often fall.

The decrease in the number of this species is also affected by the reduction in the food supply: marmots and other rodents.

saiga


Saiga.

Antelopes with a sad look are in distress. For a hundred years, their population has decreased from 2 million to 40 thousand individuals!

Such a decrease in the population can be equated with an ecological catastrophe.

View: artiodactyl mammal from the antelope subfamily.

Habitat: Now saigas live in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, sometimes they enter the territory of Turkmenistan, Russia (in Kalmykia, the Astrakhan region, the Altai Republic) and western Mongolia.

Nutrition: Saigas are herbivores and eat the most different types plants (quinoa, wormwood, couch grass saltwort, etc.), including those poisonous to other animal species.

Peculiarity: Horns grow only in males; the nose in the form of a soft, swollen, mobile proboscis with rounded close nostrils creates the effect of a “humped muzzle”.

Reproduction: The mating season begins in November, when the males compete for possession of the female. The winner in the fight gets everything, and this is a whole "harem", consisting of 5-50 females.

At the end of spring and before the beginning of summer cubs appear. Young females often give birth one at a time, and adults (in two cases out of three) give birth to two cubs.

Reasons for population decline: In the 50s of the 19th century, the number of saigas was almost 2 million individuals in the world, today this figure has decreased to less than 40 thousand.

Most animals die in Kazakhstan. From 2010 to 2015, 132,000 saigas died here.

At the moment, the causative agent of hemorrhagic septicemia (pasteurellosis) - Pasteurella multocida type B is considered the official cause of the mass death of the saiga.

Saiga saigas also die because of the inability to get food from under the ice, which they cannot break with their hooves, and because of poaching.

Saiga horns are in high demand in Chinese alternative medicine for their alleged healing properties.

Kazakhstan has a moratorium on saiga hunting until 2021, but despite this, a “black market” for the sale of saiga horns thrives in the country.

Irbis


The camera captured a snow leopard in the Sarychat area, Kyrgyzstan. Image Credit: NCF/SLT/HPFD/Rishi Sharma (NCF: Nature Conservation Foundation, SLT: Snow Leopard Trust, HPFD: Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, India)

Snow leopard, or snow leopard, or Irbis. It belongs to an endangered species of animals - the number decreases from year to year.

View: large predatory mammal from the cat family.

Habitat: It lives in the mountain ranges of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan.

Nutrition: The snow leopard is so powerful that it is able to cope with prey three times its mass. That is why snow leopards prefer larger prey, like ungulates.

Blue sheep, mountain goats, argali, tars, roe deer, deer, deer, wild boars and other species can become a full-fledged lunch or dinner for the snow leopard.

Sometimes it also feeds on small animals atypical for its diet, such as ground squirrels, pikas and birds - snowcocks, pheasants and partridges.

Peculiarity: snow leopard for a long time considered a relative of the leopard - because of resemblance. But scientists have genetic research and found that the snow leopard is close to tigers, and possibly even closer to the panther family.

For now, it is still considered a separate genus of Uncia (Snow Leopards). Due to the inaccessibility of the animal's habitats and its small number, it still remains little studied by scientists.

Reproduction: Sexual maturity occurs at 3-4 years of age. The breeding season is at the end of winter or the very beginning of spring.

The female gives birth every 2 years, 3-5 cubs at a time. Pregnancy lasts 90-110 days.

Reasons for population decline: Due to constant human persecution, the number of snow leopards is continuously declining. Poachers are attracted by good money that can be obtained for leopard fur.

The total number of representatives of the species in wild nature, as of 2003, is estimated at between 4,080 and 6,590 individuals.

Golden eagle


Golden eagle. Photo: Boris Gubin

Despite the fact that golden eagles are domesticated, they themselves are free-spirited birds. Naturally, it is best for them to live in the wild.

Over the past centuries, the golden eagle has disappeared from many areas where it used to live. The reason for this was their mass extermination, urbanization and the use of land for economic needs.

View: Predatory bird hawk families.

Habitat: Distributed in all countries of Central Asia. It lives in the mountains, to a lesser extent on the plains. Avoids residential areas, sensitive to human disturbance.

Nutrition: It hunts a wide variety of game, most often hares, rodents and many species of birds. Sometimes it attacks sheep, calves and deer cubs.

Peculiarity: The habitat is wide, but wherever it lives it is a rare and small species.

Reproduction: Golden eagles are ready to breed from the age of four or five. Being a typically monogamous bird, this eagle remains married for many years, as long as the other member of the pair lives.

If the birds are not disturbed, then they use the same nesting area for several years in a row, while the male and female protect it from other feathered predators all year round and try not to leave even in cold winter. Two eggs incubate in the nest, usually only one survives.

Reasons for population decline: In addition to poaching and human economic activity, the use of pesticides has turned out to affect the decrease in the golden eagle population.

Since golden eagles are at the top of the food chain, poisonous substances obtained through food - rodents - accumulate in their bodies. This was reflected, first of all, in the reproductive system of predators.

The shell of their eggs began to become very thin - the birds simply crushed the eggs while incubating. Given that the fecundity of eagles is already quite low, this has led to a sharp decline in golden eagle populations in most agricultural areas.

Jeyran


Jeyran. Photo: Akipress

The thin, fast gazelle lives in Central Asia and, fortunately, its numbers are now recovering.

However, the gazelle is in a vulnerable position - the animal is often hunted for its meat and horns.

View: An artiodactyl mammal from the genus of gazelles of the bovid family.

Habitat: Goitered gazelle is found in the desert and semi-desert regions of Iran, Armenia, Afghanistan, Western Pakistan, Southern Mongolia and China (Xinjiang, northern Tibet and Suiyuan); Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

Nutrition: Goitered gazelles feed on herbaceous and shrubby plants.

Reproduction: At the beginning of the rut (October-November), males arrange latrines (holes with excrement), marking their territory in this way.

They collect a harem of 2-5 females, which they protect by engaging in fights with other males. Pregnancy of females lasts 5.5 months. There are 1-2 cubs in the litter.

Reasons for population decline: Goitered gazelle is included in the category of "vulnerable population". In the past, the gazelle was a frequent object of hunting.

It was one of the main sources of food for the shepherds of South Kazakhstan and other countries of Central Asia. Goitered gazelle hunting is currently prohibited in many countries.

lynx


The lynx is one of the inhabitants of the Karakol zoo.

The lynx is a predatory cat, which is also at risk because of its valuable fur.

The animal population is now close to recovery - this is the result of a long-term ban on hunting and scientists' attempts to restore the number of animals.

View: A mammal of the lynx family.

Habitat: The lynx is found in central Russia, Georgia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Spain, Serbia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Belarus, Croatia, Albania, Greece, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine (in the Carpathians) , Armenia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

Nutrition: The basis of its diet is white hares. She also constantly hunts grouse birds, small rodents, less often small ungulates. Occasionally attacks domestic cats and dogs.

It can also feed on partridges, hazel grouses, foxes, beavers, small rodents, wild boars, fallow deer and deer.

Peculiarity: Lives settled, but due to snow and lack of food, it can make long transitions

Reproduction: Lynx rut in March. From February to March, several males follow the female and fight fiercely among themselves. Pregnancy in females lasts 63-70 days. In a brood there are usually 2-3 (very rarely 4-5) deaf and blind young lynxes.

Reasons for population decline: Lack of food and poaching. Successful attempts have now been made to revive the lynx population.

Maral. Tugai red deer


Maral.

The only one of the 7-8 subspecies of the red deer living in the desert zone. More than 90% of the total number of this deer is located on the territory of the republics of Central Asia.

In Kazakhstan, the maral was found in a large area of ​​the eastern half of the republic.

As a result of intensive hunting for it, by the beginning of the 20th century, the maral was almost completely exterminated. There is no information about the past population of the tugai deer.

As they write in the Red Book of Kazakhstan, most likely this species has never been numerous.

In 1996, the Red Book of Kazakhstan mentioned that the number of deer in this country had increased to 200 individuals.

View: Artiodactyl mammal from the deer family.

Habitat: Territory of Central Asia.

Nutrition: The red deer feeds on a wide variety of foods. The main food of this animal is herbaceous vegetation, cereals, legumes.

Peculiarity: In the floodplain of the Syr Darya, tugai deer made seasonal migrations. With the disappearance of water in the Kyzyl Kum, they moved from the desert to the Syrdarya River and returned back only with snowfall.

In Tajikistan, in the Romit mountain reserve, tugai deer live in the belt of deciduous forests and plantations of fruit trees, rising in snowless times to high-mountain juniper forests.

Reproduction: Males are ready to breed at 2-3 years of age with a total life expectancy of about 20 years. Females become sexually mature earlier - by 14-16 months.

Pregnancy lasts 8.5 months, calves are born from mid-May to mid-July. Females give birth, as a rule, to one fawn, rarely two.

Reasons for population decline: Tugai deer disappeared in Kazakhstan as a result of direct extermination.

The degradation of habitats as a result of human activities is also of significant importance: uprooting and burning of tugai forests and reed beds, plowing of floodplain lands and haymaking, regulation of river flow, and unlimited grazing.

Marmot Menzbier


Marmot Menzbir. Photo: ecosedi

The greatest harm to the livestock of Menzbier's marmot is caused by intensive poaching, shepherd dogs, as well as grazing.

View: Mammal rodent of the squirrel family.

Habitat: The world range consists of only three isolated participants in the Western Tien Shan: Chatkal (Uzbekistan), Kuraminsky (Kazakhstan), Talas (Kyrgyzstan).

Nutrition: In spring it feeds on rhizomes, bulbs and sprouts of ephemera and ephemeroids, and in summer it feeds on green succulent parts of plants: shoots, leaves, flowers. In spring and early summer it eats earthworms, beetles, and mollusks.

Peculiarity: One of the signs by which Menzbier's marmot is classified as an independent species is the baculum, which differs in structure, a bone formed in the connective tissue of the penis.

The baculum of Menzbier's marmot, unlike other marmot species, is almost straight and does not have an extension at the end.

Reproduction: It breeds once a year. The rut occurs before the marmots leave their burrows and immediately after it (March-April). Young in a brood 2-7, more often 3-4.

Reasons for population decline: Thriving poaching and intense economic use habitats.

stone marten


Stone marten. Photo: Viktor Ganin

The stone marten is the only species of martens that is not afraid to live next to a person.

Despite this ability, its numbers were once on the verge of extinction. Today the population has recovered. It belongs to a not particularly rare species, but its numbers are declining in a number of areas.

View: Predatory mammal from the weasel family.

Habitat: The stone marten inhabits most of Eurasia. Its range stretches from the Iberian Peninsula to Mongolia and the Himalayas.

Nutrition: Stone martens are omnivorous animals that eat primarily meat.

prey on small mammals(for example, rodents or rabbits), birds and their eggs, frogs, insects and others.

In summer, an important part of their diet is plant foods, which include berries and fruits.

Peculiarity: The body is covered with brown fur of a fawn hue, it has a white spot on the chest, because of it it is sometimes called the "white-haired".

Reproduction: Mating takes place from June to August, but offspring are born only in spring (from March to April).

Thus, semen preservation and pregnancy (one month) add up to 8 months. As a rule, three or four cubs are born at a time.

Reasons for population decline: The stone marten is sometimes hunted for its fur, but on a more modest scale than the pine marten, as the stone marten's fur is considered less valuable.

She is also persecuted as a "pest" that enters chicken coops or rabbit pens, and also dies due to high infestation with helminths.

markhor goat


Markhor. Photo: Klaus Rudolf

What can connect a mountain goat with a snake? The fact is that the name “markhor” is translated from Persian as “snake eater”.

From here came the belief that the markhorn goat kills snakes. True, markhor, unfortunately, could not save himself from people.

Because of unusual shape horns poachers from all over the world hunt for him as a prestigious trophy. Today, markhors can only be found in nature reserves and hard-to-reach mountainous areas.

View: artiodactyl mammal of the genus mountain goats.

Habitat: Distributed in the Western Himalayas, Kashmir, Little Tibet and Afghanistan, as well as in the mountains along the Pyanj River, the Kugitangtau, Babatag and Darvaz ridges in Tajikistan.

Nutrition: It feeds on grass and leaves.

Reproduction: The markhor rut begins in mid-November and ends by January. Having found a receptive female, the dominant male follows her for several days, driving away other applicants. After 5 months, she gives birth to 1-2 kids.

Reasons for population decline: The main reason for the sharp decline in the number of markhors is poaching.

Poachers show particular interest in the luxurious horns of the animal. At the same time, the largest healthy males - the owners of the largest horns - are knocked out of the population.

It also affected the decrease in the population of this species and the development of sheep breeding. Due to livestock grazing, wild goats were forced out of the best pastures. Now markhors are preserved only in nature reserves and hard-to-reach mountainous areas.

Almost all wild cats, from huge and rather formidable to small and adorable, are endangered in one way or another. We offer you to pay attention to these amazing graceful animals, which are a real rare treasure of wildlife.

1. Asiatic cheetah

This magnificent cat once adorned the expanses of the Middle East, Central Asia, Kazakhstan and southeast India.

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Currently, due to the destruction of their habitat, poaching and excessive hunting, there are approximately 70-110 Asiatic cheetahs left in the world living in the wild. All of them live in the arid conditions of the central plateau of Iran.

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2. Irbis (snow leopard)

Found in the rocky mountains of Central Asia, snow leopards are well adapted to the cold conditions of the desert landscapes of their habitat.

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Unfortunately, the chic fur of the snow leopard attracts a huge number of hunters. For this reason, there are only 4000-6500 of these beautiful cats left in the world.

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3. Fishing cat (speckled cat)

Unlike many family members who prefer to avoid water procedures, this cat is a professional swimmer who lives on the banks of rivers, streams and mangrove swamps.

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In 2008, this species added to the list of endangered animals, as the favorite habitats of fishing cats - swamps - are gradually drained and become the focus of people.

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4. Kalimantan cat

Also known as the Borneo cat, this animal can only be found on the island of Borneo. This extremely rare representative of the cat family is listed in the Red Book by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The photo in front of you is one of the few shots of such a rare species.

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5. Sumatran cat

This cat with a slender body and an unusual (slightly flattened) head shape loves to feast on fish and walks by itself in the vastness of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Sumatra. It has been listed in the Red Book since 2008 due to habitat destruction. The current number of individuals living on the planet is estimated to be less than 2,500.

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6. Andean cat

Among the two dozen small species of wild cats that exist in the world, one of the rarest, information about which is rather scarce, is an animal called the Andean cat. Alas, while the preservation of the populations of its larger relatives from cat family millions of dollars are allocated to support such big cats hardly thousands remain from the budgets of defense organizations.

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7. Pyrenean lynx

The Pyrenean or Iberian lynx is considered the most endangered species of wild cats. Also, this species is currently one of the most rare mammals on the planet.

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A disease called myxomatosis in the 1950s wiped out the rabbit population (the mainstay of the lynx diet) in Spain on a massive scale. Now only about 100 individuals of this species of wild cat remain in the wild.

8. Manul

These beauties prefer to spend the morning hours in caves, crevices and even marmot burrows, going hunting only in the afternoon. Due to the depletion of their habitat, declining food supplies and incessant hunting, in 2002 this species was endangered.

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9. Long-tailed cat (margai)

Margai are created by ideal poison dart frogs. Only these cats have the ability to rotate their hind limbs 180 degrees, which allows them to run upside down in trees, like squirrels. Margai can even hang from a branch, clinging to it with only one paw. Every year, people kill about 14,000 long-tailed cats for their skins. This extermination trend is fatal for margays, because it takes them two years to produce offspring, while the risk of kitten mortality is 50%.

wikipedia.org

10. Serval (bush cat)

These cats love to roam the African savannah. The serval is the owner of the most long paws in relation to the body in comparison with any other member of the cat family. Unfortunately, in pursuit of their elegant skin, hunters do not skimp on bullets and traps, subsequently offering tourists serval fur, which is passed off as leopard or cheetah.

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11. Caracal

Also known as the desert lynx, this cat is capable of making barking sounds as a warning signal. The caracal is considered an endangered species in North Africa and is regarded as rare in Central Asia and India.

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12. African golden cat

Only relatively recently have people been able to obtain photographs of this rare nocturnal resident in its habitat.

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The golden cat is only twice the size of the domestic cat we are used to. Life expectancy in natural conditions in individuals of this species has not been established, however, it is known that in captivity they can live up to 12 years.

13. Temminka the cat

This cat lives in tropical and subtropical wet evergreens and dry deciduous forests. Deforestation, as well as hunting for skin and bones, have become the reasons for finding this species under the threat of total extinction.

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14. Dune cat

This unique cat features an extended head shape and fur that grows between its toes to protect it when walking on hot surfaces. The sand cat is listed as a threatened species, and therefore hunting for it is prohibited in many countries.

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15. Far Eastern leopard

The Amur (Far Eastern) leopard is endangered due to the destruction of its habitat, as well as the constant danger posed by people. According to the latest data, in the wild on currently the presence of only 30 individuals of this species was recorded.

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16. Sumatran tiger

The Sumatran tiger is the last species of tiger in Indonesia to survive in the wild.

Despite the active policy of protective organizations in the fight against poaching, these tigers are constantly hunted, dooming them to extinction. World markets are continuously replenished with products made from these wild cats. Under these circumstances, fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers remain in the world.

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17 Clouded Leopard

Clouded leopard is considered an intermediate evolutionary link between large and small cats. This species has been placed under conditions of gradual habitat loss as a result of large-scale deforestation. Also contributing to the extermination of this species is commercial poaching aimed at the trade in wild animals. The total clouded leopard population is currently believed to be less than 10,000 adults.

wikipedia.org

18. Marble cat

This cat is often mistaken for a marbled leopard, but its size is much more graceful and the tail is different. a high degree fluffiness. The destruction of the habitat conditions of this species in the forests of Southeast Asia, as well as the reduction in the food supply, lead to a rapid decrease in the population of marbled cats in the world.

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19. Bengal cat

The color of the skin of a beautiful Bengal cat can vary from gray to red with white with a very light chest. This is the first species to have successfully crossed wild and domestic cats. The result was a beautiful and rather friendly beast.

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20. Maltese (blue) tiger

This view in the East is considered almost mythical. Most of the Maltese tigers belong to the subspecies of the South China tiger, which is endangered due to the frequent use of parts of the body of this animal in traditional medicine. Individuals that are distinguished by their "blue" skin at the moment may have already been completely exterminated.

Wikimedia Commons

21. Golden striped tiger

"Gold striped" is not the name of a species, but the definition of a color deviation.

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As a rule, such individuals are the result of directed breeding of animals in captivity, however, in India there is evidence of a meeting with a golden tiger dating back to 1900.

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22. White lion

White lions are not albinos. They are the owners of a rare genetic set, which was distributed only in one place on Earth, national park Kruger in South Africa. Two decades before the creation of the Society for the Protection of White Lions, this species was almost completely exterminated, so now a unique program is underway to restore the population in their natural habitat.

whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com

23. Anatolian leopard

For the past 30 years, this Turkish leopard species was thought to be completely extinct. However, in 2013, a shepherd in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır killed a large cat that attacked his herd. Later, biologists determined that it was an Anatolian leopard. Although this story has such a sad outcome, yet it gives hope that the rarest species may still exist.

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24. Rusty cat

A rusty or red-spotted cat, whose length, including the tail, is only 50-70 cm, and its weight is about 2-3 kg, is the smallest wild cat in the world. Man knows practically nothing about this species, whose representatives lead an extremely secretive life. Unfortunately, despite this, the rusty cat has already managed to get into the list of "vulnerable" species, since most of its places natural habitat has now been turned into farmland.

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25. Scottish Forest Cat

Known as the "Highland Tiger" in the UK, the Scottish Forest Cat is now critically endangered, with a recent population estimate of less than 400 individuals.

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26. Black-footed cat

The smallest of all African wild cats, the black-footed cat has black fur on the soles of its paws to protect it from the hot sand of the desert. These animals are no strangers to scavenging for food, a habit that puts them in great danger as it leads them into the traps set for other animals.

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Irbis, or snow leopard, or snow leopard is a large predatory mammal from the cat family that lives in the mountains of Central Asia. The irbis is distinguished by a thin, long, flexible body, relatively short legs, a small head and a very long tail. Reaching a length of 200-230 cm together with the tail, it weighs up to 55 kg. The color of the fur is light smoky gray with ring-shaped and solid dark spots. Due to the inaccessibility of the habitat and the low density of the species, many aspects of its biology are still poorly understood. At present, the number of snow leopards is catastrophically small, in the 20th century it was included in the IUCN Red Book, in the Red Book of Russia, as well as in the security documents of other countries. As of 2012, snow leopard hunting is prohibited.

Appearance Relatively large cat. In general appearance, it resembles a leopard, but is smaller, more stocky, with a long tail and is distinguished by very long hair with an indistinct pattern in the form of large dark spots and rosettes. The body is strongly elongated and squat, slightly raised in the region of the sacrum. The length of the body with the head is 103-130 cm, the length of the tail itself is 90-105 cm. The height at the shoulders is about 60 cm. The males are somewhat larger than the females. The body weight of males reaches 45-55 kg, females - 22-40 kg. The length of the hindfoot is 22-26 cm. The coat is high, very dense and soft, its length on the back reaches 55 mm - it provides protection from cold, harsh environmental conditions. In terms of fur density, the irbis differs from all big cats and is more similar to small ones. The general background of the fur color is brownish-gray without any impurities of yellow and red color (a yellowish tinge of fur was noted in some individuals that died in captivity and is possibly an artifact). The main color of the coat on the back and upper part of the sides is light gray or grayish, almost white, with a smoky coating. The sides below, the belly and the inner parts of the limbs are lighter than the back. Scattered over the general light gray background are rare large ring-shaped spots in the form of rosettes, inside which there may be an even smaller spot, as well as small solid spots of black or dark gray. The spotted pattern is relatively pale, formed by blurry spots, the diameter of the largest of which reaches from 5 cm to 7-8 cm. Solid spots of various sizes are located on the head (the smallest of them), neck and legs (larger ones, turning to the bottom ), where there are no annular spots. In the back of the back, the spots sometimes merge with each other, forming short longitudinal stripes. Between the annular spots there are few small solid ones. Large continuous spots on the terminal half of the tail often cover the tail in the transverse direction with an incomplete ring. The very tip of the tail is usually black on top. The dark spots are black in color but look dark grey.

The general color of the main background of the winter fur is very light, grayish, almost white, with a smoky coating, more noticeable along the back and upper sides, while a slight light yellowish tint can be developed. This coloring perfectly masks the beast in its natural habitat - among dark rocks, stones, white snow and ice. The general background of summer fur is characterized by a lighter, almost white color and sharp outlines of dark spots. Smoky coating of fur is less pronounced in summer than in winter. There is information, requiring further confirmation, that with age, the spotted pattern on the skin fades, becoming even more blurry and obscure. In young individuals, the spotted pattern is more pronounced, and the color of the spots is more intense than in adults. There is no sexual dimorphism in coloration. The geographical variability of color in the snow leopard is not expressed or, if it exists, it is very insignificant. The absence of a clearly defined geographic variability determined by the relatively small range of the species. The irbis is an extremely stenotypic species and adheres to identical conditions and habitats throughout its range. The head is relatively small and rounded in relation to the size of the body. The ears are short, bluntly rounded, without tassels at the ends, almost hidden in the fur in winter. The mane and sideburns are not developed. Vibrissae are white and black, up to 10.5 cm long. The eyes are large, with a round pupil. The skull is relatively powerful, with tubercles and ridges, strongly developed zygomatic arches, but less massive and heavy than that of other representatives of the Panthera genus. Length of male skulls 18-19 cm, condylo-basal length 16.5-17.3 cm, zygomatic width 12-13.5 cm, interorbital width 4.3-4.7 cm, rostrum width above canines 4.8-5 .3 cm, the length of the upper dentition is 5.8-6.3 cm. An adult snow leopard, like most other felines, has 30 teeth. On the upper and lower jaws, 6 incisors, 2 canines; on the upper jaw - 3 premolars and 1 molar; on the lower jaw - 2 premolars and 1 molar. The long and movable tongue is equipped with special tubercles on the sides, which are covered with keratinized epithelium and allow you to separate the meat from the victim's skeleton. These bumps also help with "washing". The tail is very long, exceeds three-quarters of the body length, covered with long hair and therefore seems very thick (visually its thickness is almost equal to the thickness of the snow leopard's forearm). Serves as a balancer when jumping. The limbs are relatively short. The paws of the snow leopard are wide and massive. The claws on the paws are retractable. The tracks are large, round, without claw marks. The snow leopard, unlike other big cats, cannot roar, despite incomplete ossification of the hyoid bone, which was thought to be what allows big cats to roar. New studies show that the ability to growl in cats is determined by other morphological features larynx, which are absent in the snow leopard. Despite the structure of the hyoid apparatus as in big cats (Panthera), there is no invocative "roar-growl". "Purring" occurs both during inhalation and exhalation - as in small cats (Felis). The methods of tearing the prey are like those of big cats, and the position when eating is like that of small ones.

Spreading Irbis is an exclusively Asian species. The range of the snow leopard in Central and South Asia covers the territory of mountainous regions with an area of ​​approximately 1,230,000 km 2 and extends through the territory of the following countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Geographical distribution stretches from the Hindu Kush in eastern Afghanistan and the Syr Darya through the Pamir, Tien Shan, Karakorum, Kashmir, Kunlun, and Himalaya mountains, to Southern Siberia, where the range covers the Altai, Sayan, Tannu-Ola mountains. In Mongolia, it has been found in the Mongolian Altai and Gobi Altai and in the Khangai mountains. In Tibet, it is found up to Altunshan in the north. An insignificant part of the snow leopard's range is located on the territory of Russia, which is approximately 2-3% of the modern world range and represents its northwestern and northern outskirts. The total area of ​​probable habitats of the snow leopard in Russia is at least 60,000 km2. It is found in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, in Khakassia, in Tuva and in the Altai Republic, in the mountains of the Eastern Sayan, in particular, on the Tunkinsky Goltsy and Munku-Sardyk ridges. However, there is a gradual decrease and fragmentation of the range of the snow leopard in Russia, although in some places an increase in numbers can be observed following the increase in the populations of mountain goats. On the territory of the former USSR, the range of the snow leopard occupied the Pamir-Hissar system and the Tien Shan - the entire Pamir, the Darvaz ridge, including the southwestern spurs, the Peter the Great, Zaalai, Hissar ridges, including the Baysuntau mountains, the Zeravshan ridge to the Penjikent region. The southern border goes in southern Tajikistan in an arc from Pyanj to the north and covers the Kulyab, Dashti-Dzhum, Muminabad and Kzyl-Mazar regions, where the animal is found regularly. Further, the border runs to the north-west, skirting Dushanbe from the north. Further, the border runs along the southern slope of the Gissar Range to the west, and then to the southwest. To the north and northeast, the snow leopard is found along all the ridges of the Tien Shan system, to the south including the Kuraminsky and Ferghana ridges that limit the Ferghana Valley, in the west - to the western spurs of the Chatkal, Pskem, Ugam and Talas ridges. In Altai, the snow leopard is distributed in the extreme south, where the range captures the Chuya steppe, as well as partially or entirely the main ranges of the southern, part of the central, eastern and northeastern Altai and the massifs associated with them.

habitat The irbis is a characteristic representative of the fauna of the high rocky mountains of Central and Central Asia. Among the large cats, the snow leopard is the only permanent inhabitant of the highlands. It predominantly inhabits alpine meadows, treeless cliffs, rocky areas, stony placers, steep gorges and is often found in the snowy zone. But, at the same time, in a number of areas, the snow leopard lives at much lower altitudes, inhabiting the zone of tree and shrub vegetation. Inhabiting the upper belts high mountains, the snow leopard prefers areas of small open plateaus, gentle slopes and narrow valleys covered with alpine vegetation, which alternate with rocky gorges, heaps of rocks and talus. The ridges where snow leopards usually hang out are usually characterized by steep slopes, deep gorges and rock outcrops. Snow leopards can also be found in more leveled areas, where shrubs and scree provide them with shelter to rest. Snow leopards mostly stay above the forest line, but can also be found in forests (more often in winter time). The habitat covers biotopes located in the belt between 1500-4000 meters above sea level. Sometimes it is found near the border of eternal snow, and in the Pamirs in the upper reaches of Alichur, its traces were met several times even in winter at an altitude of 4500-5000 meters above sea level. In the Himalayas, the snow leopard has been noted at an altitude of 5400-6000 meters above sea level and below 2000-2500 meters above sea level. In summer, it most often stays at an altitude of 4000-4500 meters above sea level. On the slopes of the Turkestan Range in summer, the snow leopard was observed only from about 2600 meters above sea level and above. Here the irbis stays in rocky places. In Talasskiy Alatau it lives in the belt between 1200 - 1800 and 3500 meters above sea level. On the Dzungarian Alatau, it is found at an altitude of 600-700 meters above sea level. On the Kungei Alatau ridge in summer, the snow leopard is rarely found in the belt spruce forest(2100-2600 meters above sea level) and especially often in the Alpine (altitudes up to 3300 m above sea level). In the Trans-Ili Alatau and the Central Tien Shan, in summer the snow leopard rises to heights of up to 4000 meters or more, while in winter it sometimes descends to heights of 1200 m above sea level. y. m. However, the snow leopard is not always a high-altitude animal - in a number of places it lives year-round in the region of low mountains and in the upland steppe at altitudes of 600-1500 meters above sea level, keeping, as in high mountains, near rocky gorges, cliffs and rock outcrops, in places where goats and argali live. At altitudes of 600-1000 meters above sea level, the snow leopard is common all year round in the spurs of the Dzungarian Alatau, Altynemel, Chulak and Matai. In summer, following its main prey, the snow leopard rises to the subalpine and alpine belts. In winter, when a high snow cover sets in, the irbis descends from the highlands into the middle mountain belt - often in the region coniferous forest. Seasonal migrations are characterized by a fairly regular nature and are due to seasonal migrations of ungulates - the main prey of the snow leopard.

Lifestyle Adult snow leopards are territorial animals, leading a predominantly solitary lifestyle (but family groups are also found), although females raise kittens for quite a long period of time. Each snow leopard lives within the boundaries of a strictly defined individual territory. However, it does not aggressively defend a territory from other members of its species. The habitat of an adult male may be overlapped by individual habitats of one to three females. Snow leopards mark their personal territories different ways. Individual territories can vary significantly in size. In Nepal, where there is a lot of prey, such a territory can be relatively small - with an area from 12 km 2 to 39 km 2, and 5-10 animals can live on an area of ​​100 km 2. In a territory with a low amount of prey, an area of ​​​​1000 km 2, only up to 5 individuals live. Irbis regularly makes rounds of his hunting area, visiting winter pastures and camps of wild ungulates. At the same time, he moves, adhering to the same routes. Bypassing pastures or descending from the upper belt of mountains to the underlying areas, the snow leopard always follows a path that usually follows a ridge or along a river or stream. The length of such a detour is usually large, so the snow leopard reappears in one place or another once every few days. The animal is poorly adapted to movement on deep, loose snow cover. In areas where there is loose snow, snow leopards mainly tread permanent paths along which they move for a long time.

Food and hunting Predator, usually preying on large prey corresponding to its size or larger. The snow leopard is able to cope with prey three times its mass. The main prey of the snow leopard almost everywhere and all year round are ungulates. In the wild, snow leopards mainly feed on ungulates: blue sheep, Siberian mountain goats, markhor goats, argali, tars, takins, serows, gorals, roe deer, deer, musk deer, deer, wild boars. In addition, from time to time they also feed on small animals atypical for their diet, such as ground squirrels, pikas and birds (kekliks, snowcocks, pheasants). In the Pamirs, it mainly feeds on Siberian mountain goats, less often on argali. In the Himalayas, the snow leopard hunts mountain goats, gorals, wild sheep, small deer, Tibetan hares. In Russia, the main food for the snow leopard is the mountain goat, in some places also deer, roe deer, argali, reindeer. At sharp decline In the wild ungulate population, the snow leopard, as a rule, leaves the territory of such regions, or sometimes begins to attack livestock. In Kashmir, it occasionally attacks domestic goats, sheep, and also horses. There is a recorded case of successful hunting of 2 snow leopards for a 2-year-old Tien Shan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus). Vegetable food - green parts of plants, grass, etc. - snow leopards eat in addition to the meat diet only in summer. Snow leopards hunt alone, stealthily (creeping up to the animal from behind shelters) or from ambush (guarding prey near trails, salt licks, watering holes, hiding on rocks). When a few tens of meters remain before potential prey, the irbis jumps out of the shelter and quickly overtakes it with jumps of 6-7 meters. In case of a miss, without catching the prey immediately, the snow leopard pursues it at a distance of no more than 300 meters, or does not pursue it at all. The snow leopard tries to grab large ungulates by the throat, and then suffocate or break the neck. Having killed the animal, the snow leopard drags it under a rock or other shelter, where it begins to eat. The remnants of prey are usually thrown, occasionally remaining near it, driving away vultures and other scavengers. In late summer, autumn and early winter, snow leopards often hunt in families of 2-3 individuals, which are formed by a female with her cubs. In famine years, they can hunt near settlements and attack domestic animals. Birds are mainly caught at night. Hunts for goats of all ages, but mainly for females and young (which catches mainly in early summer). Throughout its range, the snow leopard is at the top of the food pyramid and experiences almost no competition from other predators. At one time, an adult snow leopard can eat 2-3 kg of meat.

reproduction Data on the reproduction of the species are scarce. Sexual maturity occurs at 3-4 years of age. The estrus and breeding season occur at the end of winter or the very beginning of spring. The female gives birth, as a rule, once every 2 years. Pregnancy lasts 90-110 days. The lair suits in the most inaccessible places. Cubs, depending on the geographical area of ​​the range, are born in April - May or May - June. The number of cubs in a litter is usually two or three, much less often four or five. According to other sources, the birth of 3-5 cubs in one litter is a common occurrence. Larger broods are probably also possible, since there are known cases of meetings of snow leopard groups of seven individuals. The male does not take part in the upbringing of offspring. Cubs are born blind and helpless, but after about 6-8 days they begin to see clearly. The weight of a newborn snow leopard is about 500 grams with a length of up to 30 cm. Newborn snow leopards are distinguished by pronounced dark pigmentation of spots, which are few, especially few ring ones, but there are large solid black or brownish spots on the back, as well as short longitudinal stripes on its back. The first 6 weeks they feed on mother's milk. By the middle of summer, the kittens are already accompanying their mother on the hunt. Finally, young snow leopards become ready for independent life for the second winter. The maximum known lifespan in nature is 13 years. Life expectancy in captivity is usually about 21 years, but a case is known when a female has lived for 28 years.

The publication "Red Book of Russia" announced its existence in 2001. This collection contains a considerable number of the rarest animals, their photographs and brief data.

The purpose of this publication is to draw public attention to the problem of protecting endangered animals and birds. The following is interesting information about some of them.

It is this "lucky one" who has the largest horns. He is one of a kind.

This is the largest representative of the feline genus, which has "chosen" white snows and low air temperatures as its habitat. The process of hunting in such conditions is quite complicated. It is not easy for the tiger, however, he carries out stalking on deer and wild boars. This animal is the “pearl” of Russia. Incredibly unique! The species is quite rare, it is distinguished by expressive beauty: the belly has a five-centimeter layer of fat. Thanks to him, the animal is well protected from cold environmental conditions. Today, its population is growing in its numbers.

The habitat of this representative is the waters of the Barents and Kara seas. The maximum size that the presented individual can reach is 4 meters. Its weight is also considerable - one and a half tons. There were times when this species almost disappeared. However, with the help of specialists, this individual has a slight increase in popularization.

This individual reaches a length of 3 meters, and the weight is one ton. This eared seal lives in Kamchatka and Alaska.

A distinctive feature from other representatives of its kind is the black sides and fins. Arriving at the shores of the Baltic Sea, you can confidently wait for a meeting with this "handsome".

(Amur)

The species is at serious risk of extinction. Habitat - Primorsky Krai. Representatives of this species are also found in the northeast of China (in small numbers). In China Special attention is given to the problem of protecting this species from extinction. For the murder of an individual, the highest punishment is provided - the death penalty. The reason for the extinction of these animals is a high percentage of poaching.

It is rightfully considered the largest representative of the "bear family". In terms of size, it bypasses even the well-known grizzly bear.

Bright individual. It has an interesting swimming style: it arches its back. For this feature, and got its name.

By appearance the animal looks like a fox. Because of its beautiful fiery red fur, hunters shot wolves, so now the predator's population has declined sharply. At the moment, rare flocks, consisting of 12-15 individuals, can be found in the Far East.

The fox of this species is small in size: the body length is up to 60 cm. In summer, the animal’s coat is short, gray in color, and in winter it becomes thicker and longer, acquiring a light gray tint. The beast lives in the semi-desert and steppe.

Animals of this species are endangered, because people kill them because of the snow-white fur, from which clothes are sewn by the port. Individuals of the blue fox live on the coast of the Bering Sea.

Snow leopards live in Central Asia, and in Russia these animals belong to rare species. Due to the fact that they live in remote places and harsh climatic conditions, the population has not yet been completely destroyed.

This is a wild cat with beautiful long hair. He lives in Transbaikalia and Altai. The population of animals has decreased significantly due to human hunting.

This is the largest representative of the lynx genus, and an adult weighs about 20 kg. The coat of the beast is very beautiful, and in winter it becomes soft and thick. The animal lives in dense forests and does not like migration very much.

There are about 10 representatives of this species in the wild, and 23 individuals in zoos. Asiatic cheetahs live in the valley of the Syrdarya river.

These light-footed antelopes are found on the territory of the Altai Mountains. They reside in natural area deserts and steppes, have a yellowish-ocher color and long horns.

About 700 individuals of the Amur goral remain in Russia, which move in groups of 7-8 individuals. In particular, they live on the territory of Primorsky Krai.

Previously, bison lived in the forest-steppe, and the population numbered several thousand individuals. Now they are found in reserves, several dozen of these animals have been preserved.

This animal has a coat that changes seasonally from light brown in winter to brown in summer. Both males and females have huge horns. Deer live in northern latitudes - in Karelia, in Chukotka.

Other animals of the Red Book

The animal looks like a donkey, but has much in common with a horse. A representative of this species lives in the wild in the semi-desert and in the steppe.

This insectivorous animal lives in Central Russia, weighs about 0.5 kg, and its body length is 20 cm. protection of the state.

The rodent is small in size - about 15 cm. The head and back of the animal has brown hair, and on the stomach and cheeks it is white. The garden dormouse lives in spruce and beech forests.

A small animal is found in Russia in the region of Western Siberia and the Ural Mountains, lives on the banks of reservoirs.

The seal is small, and the adult grows up to 1.5 m, has a light gray coat, and it has well-developed sense organs. Occurs in the waters of the Baltic Sea and Lake Ladoga.

The marine cetacean is found in the waters of Kamchatka and the Far East. Adults grow up to 8 meters in length, weigh 2-3 tons.