Snow leopards

Snow leopards prefer steep, broken terrain like cliffs, rocky outcrops and ravines. They live at high altitudes, usually at elevations of 2,700-5,000m^[1] - far higher than any mountain you would find in the UK.

Snow leopards do migrate to lower elevations in winter to escape the deep snow and follow the movements of their prey. They have large ranges - the home range of a snow leopard can vary from 200 to 2,000 sq km^[2] - bigger than some UK counties!

Snow leopards are sparsely populated across 12 countries in Central and South Asia^[3].

There could be as few as 4,000 snow leopards in the wild, however the exact number is unknown as they are extremely elusive^[4]. It's estimated that up to 450 snow leopards are killed each year, often in retaliation for preying on livestock, but also for the illegal wildlife trade^[3].

There are several more snow leopards in captivity.

Snow leopards are between 90-115cm long (head to body) and adults weigh between 30-52kg. Their tails are very along - approximately 80-105cm, and are thought to aid balance and provide warmth when they wrap them around themselves^[5]. 

The snow leopards' long hind legs help them leap across steep, rugged terrain^[5]. Their fur can be 5cm long on their back and sides and almost 12cm long on their belly^[6], as well as having wide, fur covered feet which act as natural snowshoes and protect them from the cold. 

Their short, round ears reduce heat loss, and wide, short nasal cavities warm the air before it reaches its lungs^[5]. Their tongues have sharp-pointed rasps, called papillae, which are used to scrape the meat off the bones of its prey^[7]. 

While snow leopards have unique rosette patterns like other big cats, their long, thick fur can obscure these markings—making it more difficult to identify individuals from camera trap photos^[8].

On average, adult snow leopards need up to 2.5kg of meat each day^[9]. 

Their main prey are blue sheep, as well as the ibex and Himalayan tahr (types of wild goat). They also prey on marmot, pika, hares, small rodents and game birds^[4]. Snow leopards are opportunistic predators capable of killing prey up to three times their own weight^[1]. They usually ambush their prey, but have been observed chasing prey over distances of up to 300m across mountain slopes. Snow leopards need to eat the equivalent of 20-30 blue sheep a year, usually catching one every 10-15 days, and a solitary snow leopard may remain on a kill for up to a week.

Snow leopards are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List^[4] (which is between endangered and near-threatened). This means they face a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Snow leopards live to around 10-12 years in the wild. They first reproduce at around 3 years old. Cubs remain with their mother until they become independent at around 18-22 months old^[10], and sibling groups sometimes stay together when they're first independent^[11].