Current at 11/6/2011 (Online waypoint URL)
You have already found this cache!
Master Index    Nearest Caches
Traditional Cache Spot the Leopard by Flotsom and Jetsom (1.5/1) (Archived)
N49° 52.433  W97° 14.417 (WGS84)
UTM  14U   E 626440  N 5526093
Use waypoint: GC1B8TP
Size: Small Small    Hidden on 4/15/2008
In Manitoba, Canada
Difficulty:  1.5 out of 5   Terrain:  1 out of 5
No Dogs allowed  Recommended for kids  Takes less than an hour  Not Available at all times  Not Available during winter  Wheelchair accessible  No Stealth required  Stroller accessible 
   



This cache is one of a series placed in collaboration with the Zoological Society of Manitoba as a part of the Endangered Species Cache Game. The Cache is in the Assiniboine Park Zoo. There is a nominal entrance fee. You can download the game sheet at www.mbgeocaching.ca or obtain one from the Zoo Shop.

NOTE: You do not have to cross any barriers to easily find this cache

Spot The Leopard

The leopard is one of the most successful land mammals in the eastern hemisphere, but from Africa to the Far East it has suffered drastic declines due to poaching for its pelt and for traditional medicines, loss of its prey and habitat destruction.

The critically endangered AmurLeopard inhabits the temperate mixed forest and woodland in southeastern Russia, northern China (Manchuria) and North Korea where it hunts deer, pigs, pheasants, monkeys and small mammals. There are only 30 individuals of the Amur race left in the wild – far fewer than in captivity, where 55 zoos exhibit about 225 animals. Many zoos, including ours, participate in an international breeding program to help save these endangered animals. Leopards weigh 40 to 90 kg but can overcome much larger prey through strangulation or a powerful bite to the neck. It ambushes prey at speeds up to 60 km/hr and may leap 6 metres and clear a height of 3 metres. Leopards are solitary, associating only long enough for mating. Females have one to six young every one or two years, and these reach maturity at age three. Black leopards (sometimes called ‘black panthers’) are common in dense moist forests.

The Persian Leopard lives in the desert scrub, forested valleys and mountain steppe in Afghanistan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Armenia. Deer, sheep, goats, gazelles, wild boar, small mammals and birds are hunted. This critically endangered subspecies of the leopard is one of the largest of seven races of leopards, males reaching a weight of 80 kg, females 60 kg. It is paler than other races and sports large black rosettes on the sides and shoulders. Like the snow leopard, the Persian leopard is native to a harshly cold plateau and mountainous region and is therefore remarkably cold hardy and suitable for display in Winnipeg.

This race is also one of the most rare in zoos worldwide, with only about 150 individuals originating from 10 founders from the wild. Less than 2,000 survive in its native range, and considering the ongoing war in the region, the future of the Persian leopard is unclear. A few individuals have reached 23 years of age in zoos, but wild leopards seldom live beyond 11.

The Snow Leopard inhabits the alpine meadow and open coniferous forest in the mountains of 12 countries of central Asia, especially China and Mongolia. Their food sources are sheep, goats, young yak, deer, marmots, hares, mice and birds. Critically endangered, with less than 5,000 remaining in the wild, the species is protected in most areas. Populations are still being decimated for the animal’s fur, body parts for medicinal use and to protect livestock. The snow leopard shows many adaptations for a life at high elevations including a thick, camouflaged fur coat and a long tail, which it wraps around itself for added warmth when resting. It is remarkably agile in negotiating rocky ground, steep slopes and deep snow, using its long tail for balance. It ambushes prey at speeds up to 60 km/h, then kills with a bite to the neck or by strangulation. Males average 50 kg while the female averages 40 kg. Solitary in the wild for most of the year, members of a pair mate from January to March, and the female gives birth to 1-7 young in the spring. The Assiniboine Park Zoo participates in the International Snow Leopard Survival Program and has contributed over 21 cubs since 1963.

Additional Hints (There are no hints for this cache)


Current at 11/6/2011

Found it 2/1/2009 by Kabuthunk
WOOH! Last log of the day, and the final cache in my figure-8 circuit of all of the Zoo caches (aside of course from that pesky "Oh Give Me a Home" near the center of that circuit... annoyingly the one closest to the Zoo entrance ToungeOut). And what better way to end an awesome day (again, aside from my re-attempt at the aforementioned DNF after finding this one). My other favourite cache of this series was by the Cougar pen, and my final one is by the Leopard pen. KITTIES BigSmile!

Unfortunately, the leopards didn't meow like the cougars did... but they were still wandering around and looking all cute and fuzzy like Smile.

In case you didn't notice... I like cats ToungeOut.

But anyway, I actually located this cache surprisingly quickly. Y'see, for virtually every single other cache at the Zoo... as in EVERY cache where this style of hide could apply... this type of hide was the FIRST place that I looked. I kept thinking to myself "Oh c'mon... at least ONE of them has to be hidden this way". Sure enough... on the VERY last cache that I go after... it's finally hidden like this, fulfilling the mental prophecy I had built up around the hiding spot ToungeOut.

Strangely, the cage closest to the cache container was empty, and the information... post-thing... was empty. A bit peculiar, I thought. With all the other leopards in the area, I figured at least SOMETHING would be in there. But no... not a single footprint, no information sheet, nothing.

But hey, at least the second cage (which annoyingly, I keep typing 'cache' while trying to spell) contained many a leopard. Well ok... I think there was two ToungeOut. But they were circling around, and I got to take a good close look at them Smile. After I located the cache container and retrieved it however, several people decided to wander by. At least in the position I happened to be in, I just kept watching the leopards wander around Smile. After they had wandered off, I opened up the cache container and worked out the logbook. Again, I appear to be the second person to find the cache since the log was replaced... dated for November. But yeah, it's still been a good several months since it was last found. Log is still nice and dry, and no problems that I can see. Which is kinda surprising... it doesn't look like the most waterproof of containers. I still suggest getting some waterproof paper for these guys. When spring hits, I get the feeling it'll be pretty damp.

But anyway, after signing it up and replacing it, I slipped in a micromail ball and replaced it as found. Given the nature of how the cache container worked, I was a bit worried it wouldn't stay closed in general. Hence, I replaced it in such a way that it's pretty much held closed, so I'm not worried about that fella any more Smile.

Thanks for the excellent series of caches at the Zoo though BigSmile. It was definitely worth the trip out today. It got kinda blustery and cold towards the end (mainly during my attempt to rectify the DNF after finding this one), but I managed to visit during the warm time of the day.

Although the zoo staff should probably still be re-informed about the geocaches in here ToungeOut.

Took: Nothing
Left: Logbook entry and micromail ball


Nearby Caches
GC1B8VC archived 'Alp! 'Alp! (0.16 kms S)
GC1DFHX Widget's picnic (0.16 kms NE)
GC1B8V1 archived Oh Give Me a Home (0.20 kms SE)
GC1TDEX archived Not So (N)ice (0.24 kms SE)
GC21CJ6 Fishing Stories (0.24 kms W)
GC1B8TW archived Whoo's Next (0.24 kms E)
GC1TDH3 archived Shine On and Off (0.35 kms S)
GCMGYF Leo Mol Garden Cache (0.36 kms E)

Additional Hints (There are no hints for this cache)