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.

 

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