Snow leopard Facts
The snow leopard is a big cat of Asia's high mountains, with thick whitish to gray fur marked by black spots and rosettes and a long, bushy tail.
- Class
- Mammal
- Scientific name
- Panthera uncia
- Conservation status
- Vulnerable (IUCN)
About the snow leopard
Its range covers the Himalayas, the Tibetan Plateau and the eastern Hindu Kush, reaching north to Mongolia, western China and southern Siberia. Most live at 3,000 to 4,500 m, among cliffs and ridges, though some live lower in the north. Small round ears, wide paws and a thick tail all help in the cold. It lives alone and is most active at dawn and dusk.
As a carnivore, it actively hunts hoofed animals and sometimes domestic livestock. It is protected by law in most countries where it lives. Males are bigger than females, and both have long canine teeth. It was once placed in its own genus, Uncia, but genetic studies moved it into Panthera, where its closest relative is the tiger.
Did you know?
- Fewer than 10,000 mature snow leopards are thought to remain in the wild.
- The snow leopard's population is expected to drop about 10% by 2040.
- The snow leopard and tiger lines split between 4.62 and 1.82 million years ago.
Questions about the snow leopard
Where do snow leopards live?
In the mountains of Asia, from the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau to Mongolia, southern Siberia and western China.
Are snow leopards endangered?
The IUCN lists the snow leopard as vulnerable, mainly due to poaching and habitat loss.
Sources
- Wikidata Q30197, checked October 8, 2026
- Wikipedia: Snow leopard, checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.