Snow Leopards

Snow leopards are amazing cats that live high in cold, rocky mountains. Their pale gray fur is covered with dark spots called rosettes. They have thick coats to stay warm and long tails to help them balance. Snow leopards are very hard to find because they are shy and blend in with the rocks. They are sometimes called the ghost of the mountains.

Built for the Cold

Snow leopards have the thickest fur of any big cat. Their wide paws work like snowshoes and keep them from sinking into deep snow. Their big noses warm up the cold air before it reaches their lungs. They wrap their long, fluffy tails around their bodies like scarves when they sleep. Even their ears are small and round to lose less heat.

Mountain Hunters

Snow leopards live in the tall mountains of countries like Nepal, India, China, and Mongolia. They hunt wild sheep, goats, and marmots. These cats can leap up to 50 feet in one jump, farther than any other cat. They climb steep cliffs with ease. A snow leopard will usually eat one big meal a week.

Saving Snow Leopards

There are only about 4,000 snow leopards left in the wild. People cut down their habitat and sometimes hunt them. Many groups work to protect snow leopards and their mountain homes. Rangers use special cameras to count them and learn more about how they live. Schools in mountain villages teach kids why these cats are important.

Fun Facts

• Snow leopards cannot roar like lions or tigers, but they make a sound called a chuff.
• Their tails can be almost as long as their bodies.
• Snow leopards can jump six times the length of their body.

Did You Know?

Snow leopards are so rare and hard to spot that some scientists spend years in the mountains hoping to see just one.