Snow leopards are so seldom seen their lives remain one of the most mysterious on our planet. But even if many have not been documented in the flesh, human interference has caused their numbers to decline by 20% in the last 20 years.
Last week, for VAKOVAKO’s own World Animal Month, we spotlighted the elusive okapi. Today, we are doing the same for another enigmatic animal dubbed the “ghosts of the mountains.” This animal is so difficult to see, most researchers haven’t observed one in the flesh.
What little we do know about these creatures will fascinate you — so check out our guide to snow leopards below. And become an advocate for them this INTERNATIONAL SNOW LEOPARD DAY.
The Must-Knows About Snow Leopards
- The rarest feline — Snow leopards inhabit the rugged and hostile terrain of high mountain ranges (as high as 5,400 meters in elevation), such as the Himalayas, Altai Mountains, and the Tibetan Plateau. Their range spans 12 countries, but only 4 are found in 103 square kilometers (40 square miles) because their prey is so scarce.
- Tiger or leopard? — Evolutionarily speaking, snow leopards are more closely related to tigers. Recent studies indicate both share a common ancestor.
- Adapted for hostile — The cold doesn’t bother a snow leopard because they are well-insulated. Their fur can be as long as 12 cm on their belly and their long tails (the longest of any big cat relative to their size) acts as a blanket for warmth. Even their nose is designed for the cold — they have a special nasal cavity that allows air to warm before entering their lungs.
- Long jump champs — Snow leopards are the best leapers of all the big cats. Their long hind legs allow them to launch themselves nearly six times their body length, leaping up to 50 feet (15 meters)!
- Snow the distance — Because their food options are so limited snow leopards have to go great lengths to find prey, walking up to 40 kilometers (25 miles) in a single day.
- Skilled hunters — No other animal is as skilled and agile a hunter as the snow leopard. On the steep slopes, their large paws help with grip, long tail with balance, and camouflaged fur with stealthy stalking. Sometimes, catching their prey requires them to make death-defying jumps.
- A life of solitude — Snow leopards live solitary lives; so solitary there is actually no official term for a group of snow leopards. But despite this, they are very aware of their neighbors, communicating their presence through a unique feline perfume: rubbing rocks with their cheeks and marking. While other big cats communicate through roars, a snow leopard can’t actually produce this sound.
Shrinking in the Snow — Threats to Snow Leopards
Population numbers are difficult to determine, but scientists estimate that there are only 4,000 to 6,000 snow leopards remaining in the wild — a relatively low figure compared to their wide range. Today, the greatest dangers to these big cats are overhunting of key prey species, habitat loss from urbanization, poaching, and retaliatory killings.
But perhaps the biggest threat of all is climate change. In just the Himalayas alone, snow leopards are believed to lose 30% of their habitat due to a warming planet. It’s imperative we ensure the long-term survival of this species or else risk losing many others.
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ENDANGERED or not — every animal matters. Donate on INTERNATIONAL SNOW LEOPARD DAY with #VAKOVAKO.
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Don’t miss it: World Numbat Day is coming up — celebrate with us on November 4!
