Snow leopard facts: adaptations, range, diet and status

How are snow leopards adapted to the cold?

• Long, thick tail: up to about 1 m, or 75 to 90 percent of head and body length. It helps with balance on steep rock and is wrapped around the body for warmth when resting.
• Enlarged nasal cavity: helps warm cold, thin air.
• Short forelimbs and strong chest muscles: suited to climbing and leaping on steep slopes.
• Dense fur and broad, furry paws: insulation, and grip on snow and scree.

The coat is pale grey to cream with dark rosettes and spots, superb camouflage against rock. Snow leopards often stalk from above and chase prey down steep slopes.

Can snow leopards roar?

No. Although the snow leopard belongs to the genus Panthera with the roaring cats, its vocal folds lack the fibro elastic tissue needed for a deep roar. It yowls, especially in the breeding season, and makes other calls. See which big cats can roar.

What do snow leopards eat?

Snow leopards mainly hunt wild mountain sheep and goats, such as bharal (blue sheep), ibex and argali, and their distribution closely follows these prey. Genetic diet studies suggest small prey such as marmots matter less than once thought. Domestic livestock is taken too, commonly 15 to 30 percent of the diet and sometimes far more where wild prey is scarce, which leads to conflict with herders.

Where do snow leopards live?

Snow leopards live across the mountains of 12 countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, including the Himalayas, the Tibetan Plateau, the Pamirs, Tian Shan and Altai. They are typically found at 3,000 to 5,000 m and occasionally above 5,500 m in the Himalayas, but at the northern edge of the range they live much lower, at 600 to 2,500 m. Densities are low, from about 0.3 to 6 per 100 km², because these cold, dry landscapes support little prey.

How many snow leopards are left?

Snow leopards are very hard to count and older figures are rough. The most recent estimate cited by the IUCN Cat Specialist Group is 7,446 to 7,996 individuals, including 2,710 to 3,386 mature adults. The species was moved from Endangered to Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List in 2017, but a further decline of about 10 percent is projected over three generations.

The main threats are retaliatory killing by herders after livestock losses, decline of wild prey through hunting and competition with livestock, and poaching: an estimated 221 to 450 snow leopards have been poached each year since 2008. Conflict reduction methods include predator proof livestock corrals, livestock insurance and vaccination schemes, and community based conservation.

Frequently asked questions

Is the snow leopard a type of leopard?

No. Despite the name it is a separate species, Panthera uncia. Genetic studies suggest its closest living relative is the tiger.

Can snow leopards roar?

No. Their vocal folds lack the tissue needed for a deep roar, so they yowl and make other calls instead.

How many snow leopards are there?

The most recent estimate cited by the IUCN Cat Specialist Group is 7,446 to 7,996 individuals, of which 2,710 to 3,386 are mature adults.