Snow Leopard Elegy

Chapter 14 Snow Leopard Elegy (14)
In the trumpet-shaped cave, there was indeed a litter of three cubs, about [-] to [-] centimeters long, with all their fluff growing, they were running around, surrounded by the Big Dipper mother leopard, vying for the minced meat regurgitated in her mouth.According to information, the snow leopard is completely fed by the mother's milk for the first three months after birth; after three months, the cub's appetite increases, and the nutrition of the mother's milk alone cannot keep up. At this time, the cub's teeth are not sharp enough, and the Unable to chew raw meat directly, the mother leopard spits out half-digested minced meat to feed her cubs; at about half a year old, the cubs have full teeth, and then they start to imitate the mother leopard and tear fresh meat directly from the prey.Judging from this point, these three leopard cubs are less than three months old and half a year old.The three cubs looked healthy, slick and chubby. While greedily eating the nutritious meat soup spit out by the Big Dipper mother leopard, they also jumped at each other and played games.

In order to facilitate the observation and narration, I temporarily named the cub that is the most noisy, Nao Nao, the cub that screams the loudest, named Noisy, and the other cub that is relatively quieter is temporarily named It's called Jingjing.

After a while, the mother Big Dipper had almost vomited up the minced meat in her stomach, so she lay down on her side at the mouth of the trumpet-shaped small cave, and nursed the three cubs.The warm sunlight slanted on the Big Dipper mother leopard. She frequently licked and kissed the three cubs in her arms, and her colorful face was covered with a layer of maternal and holy brilliance.

Look at the Snow Demon again. He dug open a few wild jute plants and rolled a few times in the soft sand, probably because he was afraid of being discovered by the Big Dipper female leopard on the opposite hillside. When he rolled, his movements were very small. Lie down among wild jute bushes, close your eyes and meditate.I know that carnivorous beasts take mud baths for two purposes. One is to use mud to remove parasites such as fleas and ticks, and the other is to use mud to cover up their body odor.I think, Snow Demon is taking a mud bath now, probably because he doesn't want the Big Dipper female leopard to smell its body odor.

Time passed by every minute and every second, and it was nearly dusk, the Big Dipper mother leopard was still guarding the three cubs in the trumpet-shaped cave, and the snow demon was still dozing off among the wild jute bushes, nothing happened.My eyes get tired and I put down the binoculars.Qiangba took out dry food to satisfy his hunger, and asked me while eating, "What do you think, why did the snow demon come here?"

"Oh, it has an Oedipus complex, and hopes to stay by the mother Beidou's side all the time." I said.

"But it's still 100 meters away from the Big Dipper mother leopard, and it's hiding in the jute field. It looks quite mysterious." Qiangba said.

"What's so strange about this is that the Big Dipper leopard doesn't allow it to get close to the nest, so it has to hide." I said without thinking, "It's lying on the jute field, at least its eyes can still see the Big Dipper mother leopard, compared to staying in the crescent moon The physical distance is shortened, and the psychological distance is also close, so the feeling is naturally much better.”

"I hope your analysis is right." Jamba smiled at me, forced and heavy, "I hope my worries are unnecessary."

"What are you worried about?" I asked.

"I always feel that the Snow Demon came here not simply to get closer to the Big Dipper Mother Leopard, but for another purpose."

"Don't think about it," I said, "Snow Demon is still young, it's just that he is not used to being alone and wants to live with the Big Dipper female leopard. If you don't believe me, just wait and see. When it gets dark, it will go back to the Big Dipper mother. of its own crescent-shaped grotto."

An hour later, the purple twilight diffused into the barren valley, the sun set behind the mountain, and it gradually became dark. The Big Dipper female leopard got up and moved from the entrance of the cave to the inside of the cave.Although the snow demon's eyesight is much stronger than that of us humans, but I think, at most, he can see a fuzzy black shadow.But it didn't know what to think, and it didn't go back to its crescent-shaped cave.There was no other way, and Qiangba and I had no choice but to spend the night curled up under the pile of mani, risking our lives to accompany the gentleman.

After a day of running in the mountains, I was very tired, and I fell asleep in a daze.

Although it is already spring, the temperature at night near the snow line of Gaoligong Mountain is still very low, the fog in spring is heavy, and the wind blows again in the middle of the night, blowing the snow that does not melt all year round on the top of the mountain, and sprinkling fine snow dust.I was woken up from the cold, my body was wet, I caught a cold, my nose was itchy and I wanted to sneeze, and I was afraid that the loud sneeze would disturb the Big Dipper mother leopard and the snow demon in the silent night, so I had to pinch my nose and hold it back forcibly. Constipation is even more uncomfortable.Jamba was born and bred in the mountains. He seemed to be used to camping in the wild, sleeping soundly, and snoring slightly.

I couldn't sleep anyway, so I installed an infrared night vision device on the telescope to see the snow demon, which was licking its front legs.Obviously, the snow dust and dew had wet the fur on its body, shivering from the cold, and woke up from the cold.Why bother to stay here and suffer? The Big Dipper mother leopard is already asleep with her three cubs in her arms. In the dark night, you can't see your fingers. You can't see anything. Why don't you go back to your crescent-shaped cave?After returning to the crescent-shaped cave, although I was alone and lonely, at least I was no longer drenched in snow, dust and dew, and I could have a good sleep and maybe a sweet dream.I really don't know what kind of medicine it sells in the gourd.

Around four o'clock in the morning, the cold was no match for drowsiness, and I fell asleep again.

Suddenly, I felt a severe pain in my hair, which woke me up. When I opened my eyes, I saw that Qiangba was pulling my hair.

"Tsk, let go, you're going to make me a bald donkey!" I gasped and shouted through gritted teeth.

"Hush——" He put his index finger on his lips, made a gesture to keep me quiet, and whispered in my ear, "Look at the snow demon, there seems to be something wrong with his face."

I got up and rubbed my sleepy eyes. The sky was already bright, and the morning sun pierced through the milky white mountain haze, shining a hazy glow.I grabbed the binoculars and looked at the wild jute field. Oh, the Snow Demon was covered with a layer of glistening dew. He was half crouching and half crouching in the jute bushes. Slightly open, showing sharp teeth, eyes wide open, staring forward, front paws scratching subconsciously on the ground, shoulder blade protruding, fluctuating high and low, completely like a prey that has entered the ambush circle and is eager to pounce posture.

I moved the binoculars forward, and the hillside in front of the snow demon was full of fist-sized gravel and low grass, but no animals were seen. Oh, there was a green praying mantis crawling slowly on a grass stalk, like a snow leopard. A large beast of prey, even with an empty stomach, would not be interested in the little praying mantis.

I extended the binoculars forward again, and only then did I realize that the object Snow Demon was staring at was the Big Dipper female leopard!The Big Dipper mother leopard was lying sideways at the entrance of the cave, breastfeeding the three cubs while licking and combing the fluff of the cubs.Just as Qiangba reminded, there is indeed something wrong with Snow Demon's expression.It stands to reason that when it sees the Big Dipper mother leopard breastfeeding and combing the fluff of her younger siblings lovingly, she should maintain a peaceful state of mind and cast blessings or envy.Taking a step back, even if it is psychologically unbalanced and jealous of the three cubs who are acting like a baby in the arms of the Big Dipper mother leopard, it should be a kind of jealousy that is slightly deeper than envy, or moderate jealousy, non-toxic and non-toxic. Jealousy as a side effect, should not be like now, with vicious and fierce eyes shooting out, secretly sharpening the "claw" and preparing to bite, as if the mother and young compatriots who gave birth to it and raised it in the small trumpet-shaped cave in front of it should not be Brothers and sisters, but sworn enemies.

What on earth is it trying to do? Is it blinded by the poisonous flames of jealousy?

At this time, the morning mist receded and the ravine was covered with bright sunshine. After feeding the three cubs, the Big Dipper mother drove them into the small trumpet-shaped cave, and then walked back and forth on both sides of the small cave, as if loyal to the mother. The on-duty patrol posts search every nest of grass and every rock, and move their noses while walking, sniffing carefully for suspicious smells.Poor parents all over the world, the Big Dipper mother leopard is about to go out. In order to ensure the safety of the three young jackals, she must check whether there are hidden natural enemies around the nest before going out.A passerby badger covered in pitch-black passed by the ridge. The badger is a medium-sized carnivore, about the size of a wolfhound. It poses no great threat to a leopard cub over three months old. Seven to eighty meters, not within the special warning range, but the Big Dipper female leopard still roared and jumped up, drove the badger out of the barren valley, and then gave up.After being busy for a while, convinced that the surrounding area of ​​the nest was safe, the Big Dipper female leopard flicked her tail, walked briskly, and ran out of the barren valley along a faintly visible ox hair path among the rocks.

Undoubtedly, the Big Dipper female leopard is going to fulfill another obligation as a mother, to meet the snow demon in the crescent-shaped cave, lead the snow demon in hunting, and impart the knowledge and experience of jungle life.

The Big Dipper female leopard passed under the wild jute field where the Snow Demon was hiding, and I took a closer look. The Snow Demon crouched a little lower, and her head was retracted into the dense jute bushes, as if she was worried about being discovered by the Big Dipper Mother Leopard.This is not surprising, it violated the prohibition of the Big Dipper Leopard, broke into the scent cordon set up by the Big Dipper Leopard, and sneaked here.

Soon, the Big Dipper female leopard walked away in the winding and barren valley, and her figure flashed into the residual fog and strange rocks, and she was no longer seen.Snow Demon stood up from the wild jute bushes, shook off the sand from his body, and stretched.Now there is no need to hide anymore, you can stretch your muscles and bones and move freely.

I think the Snow Demon must know that the Big Dipper Leopard went to the crescent-shaped cave to look for it. Logically, it should jump up the mountain ridge and return to its crescent-shaped cave from another road as fast as possible, trying to catch up with it in time. The Big Dipper Leopard reached the crescent-shaped cave in front of it, so that it would not reveal its flaws.It can do that, if it wants to.

Sure enough, the Snow Demon strode forward, but instead of going to the crescent-shaped cave outside the barren mountain ditch, it went straight to the lair of the Big Dipper female leopard - a small trumpet-shaped cave.It moved strangely, and turned its head to look out of the barren valley while running, as if afraid that the Big Dipper female leopard would suddenly appear. Using the four words of thieves and thieves to describe it does not wrong it at all.

"It's broken, the snow demon wants to kill this litter of cubs!" Qiangba said anxiously.

"Is...is this possible?" I was taken aback by Jamba's terrible judgment, and I stuttered a bit, "It...it has no reason to do this...it did it. Maybe...maybe it's just... …just wanted to get to know this litter of cubs, oh, it… it’s never seen these three cubs.”

As soon as I finished speaking incoherently, the Snow Demon had leaped to the front of the trumpet-shaped cave, bared her teeth, bent her hind limbs slightly, stretched her sharp fingers and claws from the sheaths, and was completely ready to kill her prey.Looking at the three cubs again, they have realized from the snow demon's ferocious facial expression and murderous eyes that the god of death is approaching them. They are so frightened that their souls go out of their bodies. They want to escape. The entrance of the cave is blocked by the snow demon, and there is nowhere to go. Fleeing, noisy and noisy huddled together, closed eyes and hugged each other's heads, as if this could alleviate the fear of death, quietly scratched and bit the cave wall with immature minions, probably trying to temporarily dig a hole in the hard granite. If there is no tunnel that can hide and escape, it is of course futile.

The hair on both sides of the Snow Demon's cheeks spread wildly, aiming at Nao Nao's neck...

There is nothing to doubt anymore, the Snow Demon did commit the crime while the Beidou mother leopard was leaving the nest.

The situation was urgent, and I didn't have time to think about it. I was completely controlled by my subconscious. I jumped out from behind the mani pile, waved my hands and shouted: "Snow demon, you can't—"

"Ah 嗬 —— Ah 强-" Johnba also rolled into a horn -shaped with his hands and shouted loudly.

Although as a zoologist, we should strictly maintain a neutral attitude in the face of conflicts and disputes among wild animals, and should not brutally interfere in the internal affairs of snow leopards, I still feel the need to stop the killing in front of us.There are four reasons why I cannot take a tolerant or indulgent attitude towards this behavior of the Snow Demon: First, this is not a killing caused by hunger, but a crazy revenge caused by narrow-minded jealousy, a naked murder, and offending blood relatives It is a taboo generally applicable in the animal kingdom not to kill each other during the day; secondly, during the raising of the three cubs, the Big Dipper female leopard spares time and energy to teach the snow demon hunting skills, that is, using human standards and Measured by requirements, she can also be called a responsible and good mother. Xue Yao didn't want to repay, but killed her young siblings behind the back of the Big Dipper mother leopard. thirdly, the Big Dipper mother leopard is not a fool, and she did not find the snow demon in the crescent-shaped cave, but when she returned home and saw three cubs were killed, the first suspect was the snow demon. , the consequences will be unimaginable; fourth, the snow leopard is a rare and endangered wild animal. As a zoologist, I have the responsibility to avoid abnormal attrition of this precious species.

Hearing our shouts, the Snow Demon was taken aback, jumped back a step, pulled his head out of the small cave, and looked at us.We have fed it for half a year, of course it should recognize it, and it seems that it should be able to understand our purpose of shouting at the top of our throat.It hesitated at the entrance of the cave for a while, looked at Qiangba and me, and then turned to look at the three cubs in the cave. It gave me the feeling that I was very conflicted, not knowing whether to continue or stop this despicable plot.

Qiangba and I ran quickly to the trumpet-shaped small cave, taking advantage of the snow demon's hesitation, to stop it from attacking, which is good for it, the Big Dipper mother leopard, and us human beings to protect wild animals.

We are rushing down from the top of the mountain at a very fast speed, and we have already completed half of the distance in a few seconds.Suddenly, the Snow Demon arched his waist and swished into the hole.This guy, seeing us approaching quickly, has no time to think about it, and is determined to carry out the conspiracy to the end.In the trumpet-shaped cave, the heart-piercing screams of the cubs could be heard.Jamba and I felt tense, the crime had already happened.Immediately afterwards, the cub named Noisy and the cub named Noisy jumped out of the small cave in a hurry against the cave wall, fleeing for their lives.The snow demon spun around her leopard's waist eagerly, took a sip, and bit Quaker's neck. Poor Noisy twisted her body a few times in pain, and then went limp.The cub took the opportunity to jump out of the small cave and ran away with all its strength.Although Nao Nao is only a few months old, he knows how to cherish his own life and has a strong survival instinct.Maybe it was because there was no place to hide on the bare hillside, or maybe it was because of the panic, Nao Nao ran towards Qiangba and me, screaming at the same time, not sure if he was calling us for help.At that time, Qiangba and I were about 30 meters away from the cub, and we both opened our arms to welcome the little guy, trying to grab the little guy before the snow demon catches up. It would be good to keep the last cub .

The snow demon cleaned up the cubs, and then jumped up to chase the cubs, very cruel, and wanted to kill the grass.

The cub Nao Nao was only a few meters away from us, and Qiangba rushed ahead of me, reaching out to hug it, but it glanced at us with frightened eyes, turned around and jumped away, and Squeak jumped from my crotch In the past, fled behind us.It has probably never seen a human being since its womb, and it certainly doesn't trust us casually.

That's fine, the snow demon is in front of us, the cubs are behind us, we are in the middle, the barren valley is narrow, our body is a barrier, which can stop the snow demon from continuing to be violent.

Qiangba raised the shotgun and loaded it with a clatter of bullets.I shouted the name of the snow demon loudly, trying to awaken its conscience.

(End of this chapter)