Top 10 facts about Snow Leopards

Top 10 facts about snow leopards

1. They’re well adapted to their cold environment

Snow leopards have spotted white-greyish fur that keeps them well insulated in cold weather – it can be 5cm long on their back and sides and almost 12cm long on their belly. A snow leopard's tail can reach up to 80-105cm long, which is thought to help with balance, as well as wrap around its body for added warmth.

3. High altitude acrobats

Snow leopards live in high-altitude mountainous terrain, usually at elevations of 3,000-4,500m. They prefer steep, broken landscapes such as cliffs, rocky outcrops and ravines. Snow leopards have short forelimbs and long hind legs, which allow them to traverse and stay agile in their steep and rugged environments.

10. They’re under threat from human activity

There could be as few as 4,000 leopards in the wild, however the exact number is unknown as they are extremely elusive. The main threats they face are habitat loss and deterioration, human-wildlife conflict, loss of prey, poaching for the illegal trade, and climate change. As a result, snow leopards really need our help, WWF is working alongside communities, Governments and other organisations to address some of the threats snow leopards face.