Snow Leopard

[Scottes]

A snow leopard from a local zoo. I watched this guy playing "toss & fetch" with itself for some time, but couldn't get a decent shot of the action.

The tail on this guy is amazing - the tail must be 2/3 as long as the cat itself, and fluffy as heck. It's paws are as big as dinner plates.

http://www.itsanadventure.com/postimages/SnowLeopard_55103.jpg

[PacAce]

That's a nice frontal shot of the big cat. He does kind of remind me of a cartoon characters in one of Disney's animation movie although I can't recall which one. I'm sure it'll come to me, probably in the middle of the night. :)

[tommykjensen]

Great shot.

[IanD]

Now that is a 80lb pussycat:):):):)

[sparker1]

Beautiful shot. The animal is designed for living in the snow, but looks like the Cheshire (sp?) cat in Alice in Wonderland.

[PhotosGuy]

A nice formal portrait!

[eric1]

i love snow leopards. we got a nice one at our zoo too, but he's not very cooperative. :( i like your closeup! what did you have to shoot through to get it? fence? wire net?

[Scottes]

what did you have to shoot through to get it? fence? wire net?
Thanks. I had to shoot through a medium chain-link fence, basically. I couldn't get too close because I brought a lens that couldn't focus close, and this guy was up against the wire the whole time. Finally he backed up and took a rest and I was able to get a decent show that didn't suffer too much from the fence.

He was *very* cooperative. His partner, not so much. The other stayed way up on the hill, close to upper fence. He didn't even have the deceny to move away from the fence. Sheesh. Here's a shot, which also shows the tail I was mentioning.

http://www.itsanadventure.com/postimages/SnowLeopard_55095.jpg

[IanD]

Geez, he doesn't look overly happy in that last shot. Was that the look he gave the last photog before turning him into a late afternoon snack?:):):):)

[LazyPhotographer]

What a beautiful animal! Great shots, both of them... but in the 2nd one, it looks like he's debating if you'll taste better with steak sauce or just a little salt & pepper. That's one serious - don't come any closer look!

[Khaja]

Great shot!

Was thia at the Stoneham Zoo?

Khaja

[Scottes]

Great shot!

Was thia at the Stoneham Zoo?
Yes, it sure was. Not the easiest shooting place, is it?

I posted a couple pics of the Jaguar cubs - probably on page 2 by now.

[Wazza]

Great shots, They're certainly eyeing up their next meal. :D

[thomascanty]

Nice shots! The snow leopard exhibit at the L.A. Zoo is a little better for photographers, but the cat(s) are just as uncooperative. I think there's only one in there. At least that's all I've ever seen, and I had to look pretty hard to find that one...

http://www.ldphotography.net/cdpf/snowleopard.jpg
Canon EOS 10D, Canon EF 35-350 f/3.5-5.6L USM @ 350mm, 1/90s, f/5.6, ISO 100