Species Spotlight: Snow Leopard

A snow leopard looks to the right wearing a satellite collar and sitting on a rocky slope

Questions and Answers

What is a group of snow leopards called?
Snow leopards are solitary creatures. Since it is so rare to see two snow leopards together, there actually is no term for a group of snow leopards.

Where do snow leopards live?
Snow leopards live across a vast area in northern and central Asia's high mountains, including the Himalayan region. In the Himalayas, snow leopards live in high alpine areas, mostly above the tree line and up to 18,000 feet in elevation. They are found in 12 countries—including China, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Russia, and Mongolia.

How do snow leopards keep their environment in balance?
Without the snow leopard, herbivore populations would increase, resulting in changes to the vegetation and a disruption in the ecological balance. Snow leopards are a top predator in their environment and play a key role as an indicator of the health of their high-altitude habitat. If snow leopards thrive, so will countless other species.

  • Snow Leopard

    Habitat

    The rugged and mountainous terrain of Central Asia and the Himalayan region

  • Snow Leopard

    Diet

    The diet of the snow leopard varies by region and season but consists mostly of wild sheep and goats, and smaller animals such as pikas, zokrs and marmots.

  • Snow leopard walking across snow

    Threats

    Hunting for the illegal wildlife trade and revenge killings by herders; habitat loss and diminished food supply

  • Snow Leopard

    Interesting Fact

    With long hind legs and shortened front limbs, snow leopards are incredible jumpers, able to leap 20 to 50 feet through the air, or straight up into a tree or onto a cliff, simply to perch and rest.

Learn more about snow leopards

 

2024 Species Spotlight

 

How You Can Help

Take Action

Join us to make change. Speak up for species and places through WWF's Action Center.

Adopt a Snow Leopard

Make a symbolic snow leopard adoption to help save some of the world's most endangered animals from extinction and support WWF's conservation efforts.