Snow leopards are found at high altitude Himalayas and a haunter of the wild silences. Its call is shriller than the panther's and resembles the sound of sawing wood made by the latter. In stealthy stalking, skill and speed, grace and agility, the beast is unmatched. He has the longest tail among the feline species.

Mating takes place in Feb - March and the litter is born in May - June after a gestation period of approximately fourteen to sixteen weeks. The litter consists of four to five cubs but according to local belief the mother feels so hungry that some of the cubs are devoured by her at birth. The cubs are as helpless as human babies at birth. They become fully adult in two or three years and live for about fifteen years.

From all accounts it appears that the mother alone tends the younger ones. she has to move large distances to collect food. Cubs get neglected and even lost at times.

I came to know more than one instance when cubs were picked up by graziers and trekkers. Their chances of survival are meagre and it is here that the main danger to the snow leopard lies. Food gets scarcer every day and living conditions impossible to cope with.