Snow Leopard

The beautiful and rare snow leopard has a powerful build and a medium size body, with an extra-long tail that keeps the leopard extra warm, but also contributes to its balance, while climbing mountains. It has thick fur to protect itself from the extreme cold weather, and large paws to keep from sinking into the snow. Their thick grey fur patterned with grey spots (which are unique to all different leopards) which makes a great camouflage and is perfect for them to stalk their prey. Snow leopard are solo travellers and, the only time when they are in company is when they have children and the female will be with her clubs from between 15- 22 month and then the will leave and venture by themselves. 

Habitat?

Snow leopard live in mountains in Asia, China, Himalaya, and Russia. They are also found in 12 other countries. Mainly where there are mountain grassland, mountains, broadleaf forest, coniferous forest and topical coniferous forest. The climate in these places and normally cold and dry as there live in high altitude places. In the Himalayas, they are found in 3,000-5,400 meters above sea level. 

 

Why is the Snow Leopard endangered?

Climate Change create an unstable habitat for snow leopards’, therefore because of change of temperature, certain vegetation will not grow, and the water supply will become less, as they live in such places like the mountains and forests where is doesn’t rain that much. In addition, Mining takes away the environment for the leopards to live, also the increases of grazing space (farms), also takes away land for the Snow Leopards. Mining damages the land and less vegetation will grow, an increase of more roads also damages there habitat. 

Poaching, around 220-450 cat per year are being killed or traded. Snow Leopard’s fur, our used to decorate people house, and their bones and other parts which are used in traditional Asian Medicine. Illegal trade has increased which means that these animals are in more danger from being poached. Snow Leopards are being killed from local people, as they kill their livestock,  but  also because people over -hunt and poach animals, such as wild sheep, goats which are the snow leopard’s food  source , therefore it is  harder for the leopard to find food, therefore its easier for them to go to the local farms to kill livestock
 

You can donate money to WWF, and Snow Leopard Trust. 

If you're interested in a documentary about Snow Leopards you can watch ‘Planet Earth II’