Zum Kenntnisstand des Schneeleoparden (Uncia uncia)

This work’s target is an overview of the Irbis (Panthera uncia): its biology, behaviour and location, using different literature sources, comparisons and investigations on Irbisses in their natural living space and in confinement. This dissertation is the first detailed survey of irbis´ diseases and their therapies, specially focussing on the conservation of this cat, threatened by extinction. As the snow leopard is observed in his natural habitat very rarely the literature is mainly based on investigations of captive leopards. Taxonomically the Irbis is classified to the species Pantherinae, but based on anatomic data we find they don’t fit exactly. Some authors (ROGERS  2001; NOWELL & JACKSON 1995; GRZIMEK 1978) classify the snow leopard as a unique species Uncia, located between Felinae and Pantherinae. The snow leopard as a wild cat shows low aggressiveness towards members of the same species as well as towards humans. It’s distinct vocal repertoire is most conspicuous during the mating season and when copulating. Even the adult animal is a loner and stays among his own species during the mating season only; generally it is solitary. Kept in captivity pairs will form bonds lasting several years. Being a dexterous hunter, the Irbis preys on animals three times his size. It kills livestock in captivity and can have a large economic impact on a community. After several successive copulations (matings) and a pregnancy of 100 days the females will bear 1-4 cubs. The cubs will stay with their mother until they are 19-20 months old. The living space of these rare cats includes 14 countries and covers terrain that is difficult for human beings to access. Generally the cats stay in rocky places, cliffs, ridges and slopes but seldom can be found underneath the timberlines. The big cat has adapted very well to the cold climate and is well camouflaged having light fur with dark rosettes. That’s the reason why determining how many there are, important for the conservation of this night-active cat, is so difficult. Some countries of origin of the snow-leopard are economically poor where people are usually not very interested in preserving the nature. Spreads of villages and pastures amongst the Irbis territories as well as the intensive legal hunting in the past and todays poaching of the cat and their prey have caused a dramatic decrease in the population in the past 10 years. High black market prices, illegal trading of animal products and comparatively low punishments for breaking the law have resulted in continued poaching of the snow leopard. To preserve the Irbis as a species, protection is necessary not only in the countries of its origin. Other countries – especially the Western Industrial Nations - must be informed to protect those animals and, for example, requested to prevent snow-leopard-pelt trading. European, American and Asian relief organisations have successfully targeted the international protection of the snow-leopard. Species survival plans have been established and the inhabitants of snow-leopard territories have been informed about living with the animals and the importance of maintaining the species. National parks have been established; hunting, killing and trading is prohibited in all countries in which Irbisses are living.  Snow leopards are kept in captivity and successfully bred in zoos and parks all around the world.  One key opportunity in the struggle for preservation of the species would be to offer a veterinary programme encouraging owners to manage their livestock differently in order to decrease the economic impact of predation by the snow leopard. An international studbook has been in existence since 1978 and is updated by the Helsinki Zoo, Finland. Generally diseases of the snow leopard can be treated like those of small cats. The snow leopard’s size, its defending power and the enormous stress factor during net-catching or being-caged usually requires sedation to allow treatment.  Descriptions of diseases of the Irbis, are reported primarily from zoos and parks, because of the lack of information about diseases in free living snow leopards. The mortality of juvenile snow leopards held in captivity is mostly caused by viral infections. For the Irbis in the zoo, the most common viral diseases are Panleukopenia and Feline Immundeficiency Virus (FIV).  Although a FIV Infection is almost impossible in wild life, snow leopards in zoos and parks are successfully vaccinated and bred. Among organic diseases there is a high frequency of  hepatic diseases, particularly liverfibrosis and –zirrhosis.