Snow Leopard Facts

Snow leopards (Panthera uncia) have many interesting characteristics that make them unique among big cats. Here are some snow leopard facts about their appearance, habitat, diet, and mating.

Population

• There are an estimated 4000 to 6000 snow leopards left in the wild.
• An additional 600 to 700 snow leopards can be found in zoos.

General Snow Leopard Facts

• Snow leopards thrive in some of the harshest environments on Earth,
• They are most active during dawn and dusk (crepuscular activity).
• Have fur that grows up to five inches long for extreme cold protection.
• Prefer steep, rugged terrain over open grasslands or dense forests.
• Can survive on a single large meal for up to two weeks.

Physical Facts

• A snow leopard body is built for agility and endurance
• Their thick fur coat provides insulation against freezing temperatures.
• Fur-covered paws act as natural snowshoes.
• Long, bushy tail helps with balance and provides warmth.
• Powerful limbs allow them to leap up to 50 feet in a single bound.
• Snow leopards are medium-sized big cats, larger than a lynx but smaller than a tiger. Males weigh between 120 and 200 pounds; females are slightly smaller
• Body length is about 4 to 5 feet, with an additional 3 feet of tail length.
• Their size gives them the strength to take down large prey, yet they remain agile enough to navigate steep, rugged terrain.

Habitat and Range Facts

• They inhabit the rugged mountain regions of Central Asia, spanning 12 countries.
• Snow leopards live at elevations between 9,800 and 17,000 feet above sea level.
• They prefer rocky slopes, alpine meadows, and sparse vegetation.
• They are known as the “ghosts of the mountains” due to their elusive nature.

Diet and Hunting Facts

• Snow leopards primarily prey on mountain ungulates such as wild sheep and goats.
• Their hunting strategy relies on stealth, patience, and their ability to make powerful leaps to catch their prey.
• Unlike other big cats, snow leopards rarely scavenge and rely almost entirely on their hunting skills to survive.

• They are carnivorous predators primarily feeding on mountain goats and wild sheep (Himalayan blue sheep, Siberian ibex) and smaller mammals like marmots, hares, and birds.
• They often drag their kills to secluded areas to feed undisturbed.

Snow Leopard Mating Facts

• Females typically give birth in hidden rocky dens, where they nurse and protect their cubs for the first few months of life.
• The cubs rely entirely on their mother for survival and gradually learn essential hunting skills as they grow.
• Female snow leopards have a gestation period of 90 to 100 days.
• They typically give birth to 2-3 cubs in a secluded den lined with fur.
• Cubs are born blind and rely entirely on their mother.
• Their eyes open after about a week; and they start walking at around two months.
• By two years old, they leave their mother to establish their own territory.

Communication and Behavior Facts

• They cannot roar like other big cats.
• Communicate using vocalizations such as growls, yowls, mews, and chuffing sounds.
• Use scent marking and scratch marks to establish territory.
• Solitary animals, only coming together during mating season.

Learn more about snow leopards.