Physical Characteristics & Defenses
Snow leopards have powerful legs and large, furry paws that act like snowshoes, allowing leopards to move easily and quietly along rocky cliffs and in deep snow. They live in the high mountains of Central Asia. To live in such an elevated and harsh climate, snow leopards have a well-developed chest and enlarged nasal cavity to warm the cold air as it's breathed in.
Snow leopards blend in very well with their surroundings, because of their thick, cream-colored coats that have smoky gray spots. This is called camouflage. Their spots get paler in the winter, which allows them to better blend into the snow.
Snow leopards have entered the folklore of local peoples in many countries and have been described as shape-changing mountain spirits, because of their shy behavior and uncanny, almost mystical ability to disappear among the rocks.
Their tails are long (between 30-39 inches) and heavily furred, which helps them maintain balance. They’ll also wrap their tails around their faces to protect their nose and lungs. With the ability to leap down heights of 60 feet, snow leopards are said to be the most agile of the “big cats.”
Snow leopards grow to be about 110 centimeters (3 to 4 feet), and weigh 32 to 74 kilograms (55 to 165 pounds).
Snow leopards are diurnal, meaning they are awake and active during the day.
They are solitary creatures, except when they are mating, or rearing their young. Rearing means bringing up.
Snow leopards communicate by scent-marking their territory, and claw raking boulders and tree trunks. This lets other snow leopards know they are in the area. They also communicate with vocalizations of growls and yowls.
Snow leopards have powerful legs and large, furry paws that act like snowshoes, allowing leopards to move easily and quietly along rocky cliffs and in deep snow. They live in the high mountains of Central Asia. To live in such an elevated and harsh climate, snow leopards have a well-developed chest and enlarged nasal cavity to warm the cold air as it's breathed in.
Snow leopards blend in very well with their surroundings, because of their thick, cream-colored coats that have smoky gray spots. This is called camouflage. Their spots get paler in the winter, which allows them to better blend into the snow.
Snow leopards have entered the folklore of local peoples in many countries and have been described as shape-changing mountain spirits, because of their shy behavior and uncanny, almost mystical ability to disappear among the rocks.
Their tails are long (between 30-39 inches) and heavily furred, which helps them maintain balance. They’ll also wrap their tails around their faces to protect their nose and lungs. With the ability to leap down heights of 60 feet, snow leopards are said to be the most agile of the “big cats.”
Snow leopards grow to be about 110 centimeters (3 to 4 feet), and weigh 32 to 74 kilograms (55 to 165 pounds).
Snow leopards are diurnal, meaning they are awake and active during the day.
They are solitary creatures, except when they are mating, or rearing their young. Rearing means bringing up.
Snow leopards communicate by scent-marking their territory, and claw raking boulders and tree trunks. This lets other snow leopards know they are in the area. They also communicate with vocalizations of growls and yowls.
Habitat
Snow leopards live, or inhabit, the remote mountainous areas of Central Asia above 8,000 feet. They can be found in Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Tibet and five former republics of the Soviet Union.
They den in rocky crevices, which are large cracks in rocks, or in caverns, which are like caves.
Snow leopards live, or inhabit, the remote mountainous areas of Central Asia above 8,000 feet. They can be found in Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Tibet and five former republics of the Soviet Union.
They den in rocky crevices, which are large cracks in rocks, or in caverns, which are like caves.
Life Cycle
Snow leopard breeding season is January to late March.
After breeding, the male leaves the female, and the female is responsible for finding a safe place to have and rear her cubs. This is usually among the rocks, in dens, or in crevices.
Usually two or three cubs are born to a litter in June or July. The cubs are much darker than their mother. They open their eyes at seven days old.
Snow leopards usually leave their mother at 18 to 22 months of age (about 1.5 to 2 years old). They reach breeding maturity at 2 to 3 years of age.
Snow leopard breeding season is January to late March.
After breeding, the male leaves the female, and the female is responsible for finding a safe place to have and rear her cubs. This is usually among the rocks, in dens, or in crevices.
Usually two or three cubs are born to a litter in June or July. The cubs are much darker than their mother. They open their eyes at seven days old.
Snow leopards usually leave their mother at 18 to 22 months of age (about 1.5 to 2 years old). They reach breeding maturity at 2 to 3 years of age.
Diet
Snow leopards hunt marmots, red pandas, pikas, hares, game birds, Asiatic ibex, blue sheep known as bharal, argali (another type of sheep), Asiatic ibex (a type of goat), and domestic livestock. They can kill prey up to three times their size.
Snow leopards hunt marmots, red pandas, pikas, hares, game birds, Asiatic ibex, blue sheep known as bharal, argali (another type of sheep), Asiatic ibex (a type of goat), and domestic livestock. They can kill prey up to three times their size.
Predators/Prey
Snow leopards are top predators in their food chain.
Most active at dawn and dusk, snow leopards are powerful predators capable of killing prey two to three times their own weight. Recent radio-tracking data shows they bring down prey every 10 to 15 days. Blue sheep and ibex are their main food, along with marmots, game birds, small rodents, and livestock. Snow leopards stalk their prey, then spring and grab onto it.
Snow leopards are top predators in their food chain.
Most active at dawn and dusk, snow leopards are powerful predators capable of killing prey two to three times their own weight. Recent radio-tracking data shows they bring down prey every 10 to 15 days. Blue sheep and ibex are their main food, along with marmots, game birds, small rodents, and livestock. Snow leopards stalk their prey, then spring and grab onto it.
Threats
Wild populations of snow leopards are threatened by extensive habitat loss, illegal hunting for their fur pelts or bones, declining prey species, mining and agricultural conflict with humans.
They are difficult to assess, because they are elusive. Elusive means they are hard to find. The estimated population in the wild is between 4000 to 6500.
Wild populations of snow leopards are threatened by extensive habitat loss, illegal hunting for their fur pelts or bones, declining prey species, mining and agricultural conflict with humans.
They are difficult to assess, because they are elusive. Elusive means they are hard to find. The estimated population in the wild is between 4000 to 6500.