Snow Leopard

Appearance I Prey I Populations I Status I Threats I Conservation

The Mountain Institute, (TMI) Senior Field Biologist Rod Jackson and his assistant Darla Hillard are world renowned researchers and experts on the beautiful, elusive, and highly threatened snow leopard of the mountainous regions of central Asia. Their research has both helped lead the way to saving the snow leopard from extinction and, through better understanding of such things as its ranges and natural prey, the setting up of suitable wildlife sanctuaries by TMI and other conservation organizations. For more information on the work of Rod Jackson and Darla Hillard visit www.snowleopardconservancy.org

Appearance  return to top

Adult snow leopards stand approximately two feet at the shoulder with bodies being about four feet long, not including their tail, and weigh about 100 lbs.. They are distinguished by a particularly long tail (about 3/4 of body length), short, broad muzzle and luxuriant spotted pelt of whitish-gray (tinged with yellow) with dark, open or indistinct rosettes and spots. Adaptations for mountain life include large forepaws, short limbs, well-developed chest muscles, long hair with dense, wooly underfur, and the long tail.

Snow leopards most commonly inhabit arid and semi-arid shrub land, grassland or barren habitats high in the mountains of some of the most remote and least populated areas of Central Asia. Their range encompasses over 575,000 sq. mi., from areas in southern Siberia to parts of northern India, with their largest concentrations occurring in the western part of Nepal. They prefer steep terrain broken by cliffs, ridges, gullies and rocky outcrops, although they may travel through relatively gentle country, especially if ridges and shrubs or rock outcrops offer sufficient cover. The home ranges of snow leopards which, in ground breaking research were captured, radio collared, and then studied over a period of almost three years by TMI's Jackson and Hillard, extended from about 4 « to 15 sq. mi., with substantial overlap between individuals and sexes. Interestingly, on an average day the leopards, in the course of their hunting and other activities, generally moved less than a mile from their original site. They tended to remain within these relatively small areas for 7-10 days, and then shifted their activities to another relatively distant part of their range.

Prey

An opportunistic predator capable of killing game up to three times their own weight, snow leopards are able to utilize most species found within their range, except for fully grown yak or wild ass. Blue sheep, Asiatic Ibex, and other wild sheep and goats are the most common prey, but they are also known to eat domestic stock, marmots, pikas, hares and game birds. In Russia, Siberian red deer, roe deer, wild boar, and even reindeer have been taken by snow leopards.

There are no reliable estimates of the total snow leopard population. Although comprehensive status and populations surveys are lacking, there may be as many as 5,000 - 7,000 snow leopards remaining in the wild. Population estimates for several countries, notably China, Nepal and parts of the former USSR have been revised upward.

Although fully protected through much of its range (Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Russia), laws are rarely enforced and policing is virtually impossible, given the remoteness of snow leopard habitat from administrative centers and recent political upheavals in many range areas. In fact, several countries presently offer, or have offered snow leopards for trophy hunting (Xinjiang, China, and the People's Republic of Mongolia).

The primary threats to snow leopards are for its valuable pelt and bones, trapping of animals suspected of taking livestock, and the depletion (through hunting, poisoning or habitat loss) of natural prey species (thereby increasing dependency upon domestic stock). Although pelts may fetch from $50 to $500 or more US dollars, the international fur trade has greatly declined due to regulation, animal rights activism and changes in western fashion, the primary market for fur coats. However, snow leopards appear to face significant threat from the Chinese medicinal trade, which places high value on bones of tiger and the other larger felines. For example, local tribesmen in northern Nepal trade snow leopard bones for sheep along the border with Tibet, from where they make their way across China and into southeast Asia. Medicinal products are marketed in wealthy cities such as Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei and Singapore, where demand greatly exceeds the supply. In addition, a few animals are captured for zoos in China.

Primary conservation priorities involve securing effective protected areas; strengthening conservation within reserve buffers and along important corridors linking separated reserves; reducing trade in pelts and other body parts; protecting the natural prey base; and developing local solutions to address loss of livestock to problem snow leopards.