Help Identifying Cat Prints found at 5000meters in the Khumbu, Nepal

[P Wren]

Hello. I have never posted in this sub forum before, so here goes.

I have just returned from a month long solo trekking expedition in the Everest region of Nepal.

On 17 February I was at 5000m and walking at the fifth lake above Gokyo village when I observed what I believed to be big cat (lynx sized) print in a layer of one and a half day old snow.

Sadly these are far too small for Snow Leopard, but I was wondering if it was possible to positively identify the cat/creature that left the tracks. I took a few pictures which I have reduced (substantially) in size and I left my sun glasses as a means of estimating scale.

They aren't great I'm afraid - but it was a long tiring walk at altitude and they are the best I could get before scurrying back to find my Sherpa - though why he wasn't waiting for me I don't know...(another story)

So can any one help in Identifying these ?

Big Cat Print 1
Big Cat Print 2
Big Cat Print 3

Thank you kindly

Paul

 

[falcon]

Links aren't working I'm afraid

 

[P Wren]

I've loaded the pictures onto PhotoBucket and all the links now work.

Regards

Paul

 

[Galemys]

Nepal also has tigers and leopards but judging by the size of the prints and the elevation you stated those two can be ruled out. A wildcat of mountainous regions in Asia is pallas's cat, a bit smaller than the lynx. However, a lynx would be my bet because pallas's cat is of a smaller size (although I know nothing of the size of it's paws!) and lynxes can live at high altitudes.

Tom