Habitat

Snow Leopards are native to the rugged and remote mountain ranges of Central Asia. They prefer the mountain regions of the sub-alpine zone in the winter, moving to the meadows and rocky areas of the alpine zone during the summer months. They live on mountain steppes, crags, ridges, and coniferous forest scrub at high altitudes above tree line, from 5900-18000 feet. 

Snow Leopards love the rocks and cliffs of their habitat because it provides them with good cover when hunting prey.

Population

It is not sure sure how many Snow Leopards are left remaining in the wild, it covers a wide range of estimates from 3,000-8,000, and about 370 are held in captivity. It is estimated that the Snow Leopard population has dropped has dropped twenty percent in the last sixteen years, but fortunately their numbers are returning.

Lifestyle

Snow Leopards are known for their solitary nature and only pair up during breeding season in the winter. They are at the top of the food chain in their range boundaries and they den in rocky caverns and crevices. Female Snow Leopards give birth in spring to a litter of 1-4 cubs in the spring. The cubs open their eyes within 7-9 days and start eating solid foods at about two months. They start following their mother on a hunt at three months. The cubs stay with their mother for about two years before going to live on their own.

Snow Leopards live for about 15-18 years in the wild and up to 20 years in captivity.

Characteristics and Behavior

The average adult Snow Leopard weighs between eighty and one-hundred-and-twenty pounds. Their body and head is generally 47-59 inches long with their tail being as long as 31-39 inches. Despite their name, Snow Leopards are not actually apart of the leopard family, nor are they particularly close relatives to them. The Snow Leopards' closest sister species is the tiger. The Snow Leopards' tail is unusually long and broad which serves well for balancing, in the winter, the Snow Leopard keeps warm by wrapping its tail around its face. Their fur is thick and warm to protect them from the cold and ranges from pure white, to smoky grey, to a yellowish tan, with the underbelly always being white. They have black, brown, and dark grey rosettes. Snow Leopards are very camouflaged in their habitat, blending in with their surroundings easily. Unlike most big cats, Snow Leopards have blue, green, or grey eyes, these eyes provide extraordinary low-light vision, allowing them to hunt in near total darkness. They have short, powerful forelimbs, and long, muscular hind legs that enable them to spring from a distance of 20-50 feet.They have have strong lungs that allow them to run, even when the air is thin. Snow Leopards are shy and elusive in their territory. They are considered nocturnal, thought they seem to be most active during early morning and late afternoon. Snow Leopards are very territorial but are generally calm and low-key. They are very sparse in their territory.