photo by Dingopup via Creative Commons

Endangered Species Spotlight: Snow Leopard

SPECIES:  Snow Leopard  (Panthera uncia or Uncia uncia) 

CURRENT RANGE:  Mountain Ranges of Central Asia

CURRENT THREATS:  Poaching, Loss of Prey, Conflict with local ranchers and shepherds

CONSERVATION STATUS:  Endangered

WHERE YOU CAN SEE THEM: The Himalayas, various mountain ranges in China, Russia & Mongolia

What Is It?

Typically living in alpine and subalpine areas anywhere from 10,000-22,000 feet above sea level, Snow Leopards are a bit smaller than the world’s other big cats, generally weighing 60-120 pounds and measuring just 30-50 inches from the head to the base of the tail. Like feline Hobbits, these beauties are short-legged and stocky, with bodies custom built for the harsh environments in which they dwell. Their fur is thick to protect against the bitter cold; their very long (31-39 inch) tails help maintain balance on rocky mountainous terrain and wrap around their faces like a blanket when they sleep; their paws are wide and have fur on the undersides (like big, hairy snowshoes); their ears are small and rounded to help minimize heat loss; and their nasal cavities are huge to breathe better in thin, cold air. Perhaps most interestingly, the Snow Leopard cannot roar at all, but instead hisses, chuffs, mews, growls and wails.

photo by Bernard Landgraf via Creative Commons

Why Are They Endangered?

As recently reported by the Monga Bay website, Snow Leopard populations have been plummeting in recent years due to a sharp, shocking rise in the demand for their pelts (and taxidermy mounts) to be used in luxury home decor. Apparently rich folks love the look of their long, thick fur, whose base color ranges from a smoky gray to tan and white, with dark grey and black spots. According to the non-profit Environmental Investigation Agency, approximately 1,000 snow leopards have been killed for the illegal wildlife trade in the past dozen years, which is around 20% of the estimated wild population of 4,000-6,000. But poaching for profit isn’t the only problem facing these precious predators: Despite the fact that they live in frigid, high-elevation environments far away from most human habitats, a decline in their preferred prey (deer, ibex, etc.) due to over-grazing of domestic livestock has led to more deadly encounters with local ranchers and shepherds.

What’s Being Done to Save Them?

Although currently classified as Endangered by the IUCN, there is thankfully some good news for the Snow Leopard’s future. There are nearly 700 of the animals in zoos around the world, and they are being successfully bred in captivity. Conservation organizations such as Snow Leopard Trust, the Snow Leopard Conservancy and Panthera  are working together in cooperation with many national governments from the species’ native range, meeting at an annual conference to discuss research and develop educational programs aimed at understanding the Snow Leopard’s needs as well as those of the people who live and work in the communities affecting the animals’ habitat. With dozens of protected nature reserves and national parks (in China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and many countries of the former Soviet Union) and the recent discovery of a healthy population in northeastern Afghanistan, there’s great hope for the Snow Leopard’s future recovery.  –Bret Love

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