Last year on this day, I released a post titled “Big Cats in the Snow for Christmas.” It literally just featured pictures of various big cats in the snow, and it was one of my most successful posts of 2017. Here is the sequel to that unexpected hit, which I have christened “More Big Cats in the Snow for Christmas.”
Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis)
The Amur leopard is one of the most endangered cats in the world. This subspecies of leopard (Panthera pardus) lives in the Russian Far East, and numbers just over 80 individuals. Sadly, this is an improvement over estimates of 30 Amur leopards in the year 2000. While the growth of Amur leopard populations is a conservation success story, we need to keep doing all we can to help this beautiful cat recover.
Lion (Panthera leo)
Here is something you do not see every day: a lion in the snow. This photo was not taken in the wilds of Africa, but at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, DC. Lion populations are declining rapidly, and we need to act swiftly and decisively to prevent the extinction of one of the most iconic animals on Earth. In a recent post, I shared a National Geographic story which claimed that snaring is now the dominant threat to Africa’s lions.
Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)
Of course, no post about big cats in the snow would be complete without a picture of a snow leopard. This blog is replete with information about these extraordinary cats, including this recent post.
Tiger (Panthera tigris)
The tiger’s vibrant, orange coat contrasts beautifully with the snowy background in this post’s featured image, which was taken in Boston (presumably at a zoo). The tiger is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and is closer to extinction than perhaps any of the ‘true’ big cats (those species in the Panthera genus). Tigers face many threats, including poaching for the Traditional Asian Medicine trade, and the conservation organization Panthera estimates that there are now only 3,900 tigers left in the wild.
The Jaguar 
Hope you’re having a happy holiday season Josh!
Thanks for sharing all the great info on these magnificent cats.
I feel that we all can do our part in our own way – towards a better world for big cats, environment and (even) our fellow humans :) (I’m trying to keep things positive for the holidays!)
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Yes, we can all do our part to create a better world for other people and for wildlife; putting pressure on our leaders to make the right decisions would be especially helpful in the present age.
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Gorgeous animals. I hope we learn to respect nature before it’s too late. Happy holidays! Thanks for this bit of snow. :0)
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I hope more people, especially those in power, learn to respect nature too. Happy holidays to you too!
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🎄🎁🙏
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There is always something majestic about cats, small or large.
Thanks for posting such lovely images.
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Thanks for stopping by and commenting! I happen to agree that cats always have a majestic aura about them.
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I love the lion looking up at the snow like, “Dafuq is this?”
I had checked up on amur leopards after taking a picture of the one we have at our zoo a couple years ago and saw the same 30 figure for individuals in the wild, so I’m glad to see the number is at least a bit higher today…
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Haha yea, when I saw that pic I knew I had to use it! I imagine snow isn’t something that lions have historically encountered very much in Africa…
The 80 Amur leopards figure is definitely an improvement, but the species is still far from safe, so more work needs to be done to help them recover. Who knows, maybe this time next year there will be 160 Amur leopards? Unlikely, but possible.
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The takes on the snow are captivating. It’s a shame such majestic creatures are in danger. The info you shared on them made it a worthy conservation post.
Hope the effort on their conservation grows.
Wish you a third post on the topic!
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Thanks Hargun! I tried to give this post some conservation value, to make it more than a collection of pretty pictures. Hopefully that will make a difference somehow…
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They are beautiful! They look so huggable but not really. Thank you for sharing these Pictures have really brightened my day 🦋🌼
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That’s part of what makes big cats so fascinating: they look beautiful and huggable, but they’re also fierce and immensely powerful when they need to be. I’m thrilled that these pictures made your day better!
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Stunning stunning animals. How dreadfully sad would it be if any of these animals became extinct.
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It would be heartbreaking, and future generations would not forgive us if we let creatures like lions or tigers go extinct on our watch! Fortunately there are many people who are combining science and passion to help conserve big cats.
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So very beautiful.
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Thanks you! They certainly are beautiful.
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Hello 🙂
Oh wow that pic of the lion in the snow is magnificent.
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Hello Naila! Yes, he certainly seemed fascinated by the snow!
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He probably was like “hmm… we do not have this in Africa” 🙂
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Haha yea, it may have been totally new to him. Or maybe he was just feeling playful?
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They are so magnificent. No wonder humans kill them. We are jealous creatures by comparison.
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Yes, we are jealous – and fearful. I suspect that may partially be why killing animals like big cats is seen as a ‘macho’ feat. Of course, large predators can be difficult to coexist with, and I don’t want to trivialize the challenges that people in big cat country sometimes face.
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