Page 52 - An Anthology of Intriguing Animals (DK)
P. 52
A gray coat with dark spots camouflages the
snow leopard against the snow and rocks.
P eople in the Himalayan mountains talk about the “ghost of
the mountains.” The ghost is the snow leopard. This secretive
big cat lives among the world’s highest peaks and is very hard
to see. Life is tough high up. The temperature can drop to a chilly
–40°F (–40°C). However, the snow leopard is built for the
extreme cold. An extra-thick coat keeps it warm, and it wraps
its chunky tail around itself like a scarf.
To find enough food, the snow leopard has to patrol huge
areas. Mountain sheep or goats are its favorite prey.
Catching them on steep slopes is tricky, but big paws
help the leopard grip icy rocks.
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