These spotted leopards live in the mountains across a vast range of Asia. They are insulated by thick hair—in shades of gray or creamy yellow and covered with grayish black spots—and their wide, fur-covered feet act as natural snowshoes. Snow leopards have powerful legs and are tremendous jumpers, able to leap as far as 50 feet. These big cats use their long tails for balance and as blankets to cover sensitive body parts against the severe mountain chill. They are shy and reclusive, and rarely seen in the wild.
Source: BBC Earth
Habitat
Snow leopards can be found throughout the high mountains, including the Himalayas and the southern Siberian mountains in Russia. They can also be found in the Tibetan Plateau and over a range stretching from China to the mountains of Central Asia. They prefer steep, rough terrain with rocky outcrops where prey can hardly pass. That’s why these carnivores require huge amounts of space to roam: Male leopards need up to 80 square miles — an area larger than three Manhattans — while females range up up to 48 square miles.
Diet and hunting
Snow leopards prey on blue sheep (bharal) in Tibet and the Himalayas, as well as the ibex mountain found across most of the rest of their range. Although these powerful predators can kill animals three times their own weight, they also eat smaller foods, such as marmots, hares, and birds of prey.
An Indian snow leopard, protected and observed in the national park, is said to have consumed 5 green sheep, 9 Tibetan hares, 25 marmots, 5 domestic goats, and one domestic sheep. and 15 birds in a year.
Threats to survival
The expansion of human settlement, especially cattle grazing, has led to increased conflict. Herders sometimes kill snow leopards to prevent or retaliate against predation by their domestic animals. Their lives are also threatened by poaching, the illegal trade in pellets and body parts used for traditional Chinese medicine. These cats appear to be in serious decline – as a result they have lost at least 20% of their population in two decades.
Habitat loss and the decline of large feline mammals are also contributing factors. Climate change is increasing the average temperature within the snow leopard’s home range, which scientists believe will shrink the species’ alpine habitat and spur competition with predators such as leopards, wild dogs and tigers. For these reasons, the International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the snow leopard as vulnerable to extinction.
Preservation
In recent years, a concerted effort has begun to save the snow leopards. Reserves have been established throughout their range, including those in Afghanistan, Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan. Then there’s the particularly good news: The mountains of Kyrgyzstan act as a corridor for the snow leopards to move between the northern and southern ends of their range.
That said, creating sanctuaries for these big cats only helps so much: According to one study, 40% of those sanctuaries are too small for large-roaming snow leopards. .
Countries are also stepping up anti-poaching enforcement, and conservation groups are working with herders to develop systems to keep snow leopards out of their herds. Others are raising awareness about the important role these big cats play in their environment. An iconic species, the snow leopard is essentially a mascot for their entire ecosystem: If they survive, so do many other species in their habitat.
SWEET GETTER 101
The snow leopard — one of the most elusive felines in the world — is perfectly equipped to thrive in its harsh, high-altitude habitat. Learn about these cats and how they expertly hunt agile prey.
