Snow Leopard

The snow leopard inhabits Central and South Asia’s cold, mountainous regions.  It has been observed at elevations up to 15,000 feet (almost three miles above sea level).

CLASSIFICATION

Interesting snow leopard facts

• nicknamed “the ghost of the mountain.”
• Snow leopards have physically adapted to the cold (thick fur and large paws).
  
• They can leap up to 50 feet and easily move through snow up to three feet deep.
• Snow leopards eat a fair amount of vegetation in addition to meat.
• They have an extremely long tail – almost the length of their entire body.
• They are mostly active during the twilight hours.
• Snow leopards are the smallest of all the big cats in the Panthera genus.
• They can run up to 40 mph.
• Snow leopards are more closely related to tigers than leopards
• You can find snow leopards at elevations up to 20,000 feet.
• Their nose warms the air before it goes into their lungs.

More about the snow leopard

The snow leopard is a mountain cat found in Asia. It has physically adapted to living at high elevations, developing wide nasal passages and large chest cavities to inhale enough air. It also has many small red blood cells to increase the amount of oxygen it can absorb.

Orign and history (evolution)

The snow leopard’s closest relative is the tiger. The tiger and snow leopard are believed to have separated from a common ancestor around 3.2 million years ago. For a long time, snow leopards were classified as members of the genus Uncia. Following new research, they were moved to the Panthera genus next to tigers, lions, leopards, and jaguars.

Physical appearance

Snow leopards have a stocky build with short legs, long tails, wide paws, and round ears.

Some males can weigh up to 170 lbs., but most cats average between 60 lbs. and 120 lbs.

Their fur ranges from light grey to tan with dark spots and grey or green eyes.  The underside of the cat is white. Snow leopards have very strong legs and can leap up to 50 feet.

The cat’s long tail helps it balance on steep slopes and rocky terrain.

Location and habitat (where snow leopards live)

Snow Leopards inhabit several Asian countries, including China, India, Uzbekistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Bhutan, Afghanistan, and Kazakhstan. You can find them in the southern Himalayas, across the Tibet Plateau, the mountains of Asia and Siberia at elevations between 10,000 to 17,000 feet. They prefer steep terrains and rocky outcrops.

The population in China is the largest, with an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 or more cats.

Snow leopards live in mountainous regions, usually above the tree line. They can tolerate cold temperatures down to -40 °F. During the winter, you can also find them in forest areas at lower altitudes.

Their territories can cover hundreds of square miles.

Snow leopard behavior

Snow leopards lead solitary lives except during mating season. They are generally active from dawn to dusk. Similar to other wild cats, they mark their terriotry with urine, feces and scratching tree bark. 

Hunting and prey (diet)

The snow leopard preys on mountain sheep, wild caprids (members of the goat family), domestic livestock, rabbits, and birds, with a preference for larger animals. Caprids make up 45% to 98% of its diet.   

It also eats carrion (already dead animals), grass, and twigs.

The snow leopard will attack and kill its prey with a bite to the neck and then drag it to a safe location to eat.

Snow leopards can travel up to 80 square miles looking for prey.

How snow leopards communicate

Snow leopard sounds include mewing, hissing, wailing, and chuffing.

Mating, reproduction and lifespan

Snow leopards usually mate in late winter. After mating, males do not seek out other partners. Females are pregnant for approximately 90 to 100 days. They give birth to the cubs in hidden dens lined with their fur. 

Cubs (usually 2 to 3 per litter) are born between April and June. They leave the den between two to four months of age. The mother remains with the cubs for an extended period of time, sometimes until they are almost two years of age. Snow leopards can live up to 18 years in the wild.

Snow Leopard Conservation

The most significant snow leopard conservation threat is poaching. They are killed for their fur and body pots. Other threats include retaliation livestock killing, the decline of prey populations, and loss of habitat.

Snow leopard in culture

Many Central Asian indigenous populations have worshiped the snow leopard. It is considered a symbol of power, strength, and, amongst some groups, a mountain spirit.

In Buddism, it is written that “the snow leopard owns the rocky mountains, is the leader of all carnivores, and is one of the protectors of the sacred mountains.”

The snow leopard is the unofficial state symbol of Kyrgyzstan, where it was revered for its nobility and bravery in ancient times.

“The positive imagery and symbolism linking the snow leopard to the Republic of Kazakhstan cements the non-human animal’s status as an unofficial state symbol.” – brill.com

You can find rock carvings of snow leopards in Upper Tibet dating back to the Iron Age. Snow leopards have appeared in historical paintings and artifacts from Tibet, Mongolia, India, Persia and China. 

Image:  A drawing of a snow leopard by Marcus de Bye, a painter known for his etchings of animals, who lived in the late 1600s. 

Research, references and quotes

“Our results indicate monasteries play an important role in snow leopard conservation…According to Buddhist scripture, the snow leopard owns the rocky mountains, is the leader of all carnivores, and is one of the protectors of the sacred mountains.” – Role of Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries in Snow Leopard Conservation | Li, Wang et al.

“Between 3,500 and 7,000 snow leopards live high in the mountains of Asia, with about 60 percent living in China…The leopards are being protected by hundreds of Buddhist monasteries on the Tibetan plateau, new research suggests.” – nbcnews.com