Snow leopard

눈표범

The "ghost of the mountains" lives high in snowy ranges, using its thick, body-long tail for balance and as a warm scarf. It can leap more than 10 m across rocky gaps, and like the cheetah it cannot roar.

See it on the 3D globe →

At a glance

Class: Mammals
Lives in: Hemis, Ladakh, India
Diet: Meat eater (carnivore)
Weight: about 39 kg
Length: about 2 m
Top speed: about 64 km/h
Lifespan: up to about 22 years
Conservation status: Vulnerable (IUCN VU)
Habitat: mountains

Quick answers

Where does the Snow leopard live?

It lives in mountains. On the globe you can find it near Hemis, Ladakh, India.

How big is the Snow leopard?

It grows to about 2 m and 39 kg.

What does the Snow leopard eat?

Its diet: meat eater (carnivore).

How fast is the Snow leopard?

It can reach about 64 km/h.

How long does the Snow leopard live?

It can live up to about 22 years.

Is the Snow leopard endangered?

It is listed as Vulnerable (IUCN VU).

The snow leopard is a big cat of the high mountains of Asia, from the Hindu Kush and the Himalayas across the Tibetan Plateau to southern Siberia, Mongolia and western China. Its thick whitish-grey fur is covered with black spots and rosettes. Small rounded ears, broad furry paws and a thick tail help it live in the cold.

It usually lives at 3,000 to 4,500 metres on cliffs and ridges. It hunts alone, mostly at dawn and dusk, and goes after wild hoofed animals and sometimes livestock. The IUCN lists it as vulnerable, with fewer than 10,000 adults. It is a symbol in heraldry in Central Asia and north India.

Built for snow

Its large furry paws work like snowshoes, and its long tail is almost as long as its body. It is a balance aid, and the cat wraps it around its face like a scarf when it rests. The snow leopard is a member of the genus Panthera, and its closest relative is the tiger. Males are bigger than females.

Why is it in danger?

The main threats are poaching and loss of habitat. The snow leopard is listed in CITES Appendix I and legally protected in most of the countries where it lives. Its population is expected to fall about 10 percent by 2040. Because it is so shy and well camouflaged in rocky mountains, it is hard to see, which explains its nickname, ghost of the mountains.

Fun facts

Its tail is almost as long as its body, and it wraps it around its face like a scarf when resting.
Its tail can be almost as long as its body.
It is closely related to the tiger.
Its paws act like snowshoes.
It lives as high as 4,500 metres.