Snow leopard - Panthera uncia

An adult snow leopard weighs between 35 and 55 kg, stands about 60 cm tall at the shoulder, and measures 1.8-2.3 m from their head to the tip of their tail, which is up to 1 m long. Male snow leopards are generally about 30% larger than females, but otherwise the two sexes look very much alike and can be difficult to tell apart.

Snow leopards have white, yellowish, or smoky-gray fur patterned with dark-gray to black spots and rosettes. These markings camouflage them against the rocky slopes, helping them sneak up on prey. Their fur is dense, woolly and up to 12 cm long. The snow leopard uses its very long, thick, furry tail to aid in balancing.

 

Snow leopard

Snow Leopards are closely associated with the alpine and sub-alpine ecological zones, favoring steep terrain well broken by cliffs, ridges, gullies, and rocky outcrops. However, in Mongolia and Tibet they may occupy relatively flat or rolling terrain as long as there is sufficient hiding cover. In the Sayan mountains of Russia and parts of the Tien Shan range of China, they are found in open coniferous forest, but they usually avoid dense forest. They generally occur at elevations of 3,000-4,500 m, except for at their northern range limit, where they are found at lower elevations (900-2,500 m). Low temperatures and high aridity make their habitat among the least productive rangeland systems, with prey populations occurring at relatively low densities.

The cat’s principal natural prey species are bharal or blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) and ibex (Capra sibirica) whose distribution coincides closely with snow leopard range. Snow leopards also prey on marmot (Marmota spp), pika (Ochotona spp.), hares (Lepus spp.), small rodents, and game birds. Considerable predation is reported on domestic livestock. Annual prey requirements are estimated at 20 to 30 adult blue sheep, with radio-tracking data indicating such a kill every 10 to 15 days. A solitary leopard may remain on a kill for up to a week.

Snow Leopard home ranges overlap widely between the sexes, and are reported to vary from 10 to 40 km² in relatively productive habitat in Nepal. By comparison, home ranges are considerably larger (140 km² or larger) in Mongolia, where terrain is relatively open and ungulate prey densities lower. Densities range from 0,1 to 10 or more individuals per 100 km².

In captivity, snow leopards have been known to live for as long as 21 years. Their lives in the wild are likely somewhat shorter but no conclusive data is available. Tooth analysis of one wild snow leopard that was found having apparently died of natural causes indicated it was 10 to 13 years old.

The snow leopard mating season is between January and mid-March. Males are not involved with cub rearing. Female snow leopards are pregnant for 93 to 110 days, and cubs are born in June or July. Usually 2 or 3 cubs are born in a litter. It is thought that snow leopards retreat to hidden den sites to give birth in the wild, although there have been very few observations of such behavior. Cubs become independent of their mothers at 18-22 months of age and female snow leopards will be ready to reproduce by the age of 2 or 3, while males become sexually mature by age 4. Because of the time necessary to raise cubs, female snow leopards mate only every other year.

The Snow Leopard Survival Strategy recently compiled national snow leopard population estimates, but many of the estimates are acknowledged to be rough and out of date. The total estimated population is 4,080-6,590.

The snow leopard is listed as Endangered by the IUCN. Snow leopards are suspected to have declined by at least 20% over the past two generations (16 years) due to habitat and prey base loss, poaching and persecution.

Number of total population and number per country:

• Afghanistan: 100-200
• Bhutan: 100-200
• China: 2,000-2,500
• India: 200-600
• Kazakhstan: 180-200
• Kyrgyzstan: 150-500
• Mongolia: 500-1,000
• Nepal: 300-500
• Pakistan: 200-420
• Russia: 150-200
• Tajikistan: 180-220
• Uzbekistan: 20-50

• Afghanistan
• China
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Mongolia
• Russia
• Tajikistan
• Uzbekistan

• Altai
• Mongolia

Little is known about the precise historic distribution of this species. In fact, there remains a significant lack of information about current snow leopard status across much of its known and potential distribution. Due to the snow leopard's adaptation to high altitudes, its range is believed to follow the high mountains of Central Asia. According to the latest estimates the total historic range for this species is 2,5 million km², considerably less than the estimated current range of 1,83 million km², of which only 0,55 million km² are considered 'good habitat'.

The Snow Leopard is restricted to the high mountains of Central Asia, with core areas including the Altai, Tian Shan, Kun Lun, Pamir, Hindu Kush, Karakorum and Himalayan ranges. Ecological regions are defined as Altai-Sayan, Trans-Altai Alashan Gobi, Tian Shan, Pamir, Hindu-Kush, Karakorum, Himalayas, Hengduan Mountains, and Tibetan Plateau.

Based on elevational analysis, the potential range has been estimated at over 3 million km², with much of this in Mongolia and the Tibetan plateau of China, although it is unclear to what extent snow leopards use much of the flatter parts of the plateau. There is evidence of snow leopard occupation in 1,83 million km², and only about 550,000 km² is considered to be good habitat. However, there remains a significant lack of information about current snow leopard status across much of its known and potential distribution.

Major threats to the Snow Leopard include prey base depletion, illegal trade, conflict with local people, and lack of conservation capacity, policy and awareness. The Snow Leopard Survival Strategy assessed primary threats by region as follows:

• Commonwealth of Independent States and western China (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Xinjiang province of China):
  reduction of natural prey due to illegal hunting, poaching snow leopards for trade in hides or bones, lack of trans-boundary cooperation, military activity, and human population growth or poverty.
• Northern range (Russia, Mongolia, and Altai and Tien Shan ranges of China):
  poaching snow leopards for trade in hides or bones, lack of appropriate policy and effective enforcement, lack of institutional capacity and awareness among local people and policy makers, and human population growth or poverty.
• Himalayan region (Tibetan Plateau and other southern China, India, Nepal and Bhutan):
  reduction of natural prey due to competition with livestock, killing of snow leopards in retribution for livestock depredation, lack of trans-boundary cooperation, military activity, and human population growth or poverty.
• Karakhorum and Hindu Kush (Afghanistan, Pakistan and southwest China):
  habitat degradation and fragmentation, reduction of natural prey due to illegal hunting, killing of snow leopards in retribution for livestock depredation, lack of effective law enforcement, lack of institutional capacity and awareness among local people and policy makers, and human population growth or poverty.

Snow Leopard habitat undergoes extensive agro-pastoral land use, both within and outside protected areas. Conflict with local communities over livestock depredation is amongst the most important threats to the species.

The inherently low wild ungulate density in the snow leopard’s range, owing to relatively low primary productivity, is further exacerbated by prey declines due to hunting for meat and competition with livestock. A declining prey base reduces habitat quality for snow leopards and escalates livestock depredation. Competition with livestock for forage is one of the most widespread causes of prey base decline. Reduction of the wild prey base because of hunting by people is also significant in parts of snow leopard range.
 
Snow Leopards are capable of killing all domestic animals except perhaps for fully-grown male yak. Although herders take steps to reduce the risk of depredation, livestock populations are a locally abundant food source for snow leopards and make up to 58% of their diet in some areas.

Snow Leopards are killed in retribution for livestock depredation, but also for commercial purposes, and poaching for illegal trade represents a significant threat. Pelts appear to be the main snow leopard produce in demand, but there is also evidence of demand for live animals for zoos and circuses. Other body parts found in trade include bones (used especially in Chinese medicine as a substitute for tiger bone), as well as claws, meat and sexual organs of male cats. Illegal trade increased in the 1990s in the economically depressed, newly independent Central Asian states that emerged from dissolution of the Soviet Union. Illegal trade appears to be increasing rapidly with China’s growing economic power, for example, in neighbouring Mongolia. In Afghanistan, a new market has emerged which is difficult to police due to ongoing military conflict.

The general lack of awareness at both local and national levels for the need to conserve wildlife and especially predators, further hinders conservation efforts. Up to a third of the snow leopard’s range falls along politically sensitive international borders, complicating trans-boundary conservation initiatives. Military conflict is taking place across much of the snow leopard's range, causing immense damage to wildlife through direct loss of species and destruction of habitat, losses to landmines, the demands of displaced peoples for food and fuel, and the encouragement of trade in wildlife.

• the Snow Leopard Trust
  Founded in 1981, the Snow Leopard Trust is the world's leading authority on the study and protection of the endangered snow leopard.
• The Snow Leopard Conservancy
  The Snow Leopard Conservancy is dedicated to promoting innovative grassroots measures that lead local people to become better stewards of endangered snow leopards, their prey, and habitat.
• Panthera
  Fondly known as a "mountain ghost," the snow leopard is one of the most elusive creatures on the planet. Panthera’s Snow Leopard Conservation Project is protecting this rare cat by carrying out ecological research, training field biologists, assessing threats, securing habitat, working with local communities to mitigate snow leopard-human conflicts and helping governments create National Snow Leopard Action Plans, across nine countries.
• Defenders of Wildlife
  The snow leopard, known for its beautiful, thick fur, has a white, yellowish or soft gray coat with ringed spots of black on brown. The markings help camouflage it from prey. With their thick coats, heavy fur-lined tails and paws covered with fur, snow leopards are perfectly adapted to the cold and dry habitats in which they live.

• Snow leopard and Siberian ibex

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