Snow Leopard

Snow leopards (Uncia uncia) are medium sized mountain cats that range across central Asia and the Himalayas. Snow Leopards are one of Nepal’s most endangered animals and their existence is under threat. There were an estimated 300-500 snow leopards in Nepal in 2003 and their numbers continue to diminish due to poaching. Despite their small numbers trekkers and locals often come across their footprints at high altitudes. People have reported seeing these cats high up Langtang valley, in Dolpa, Mustang and Limi Valley in Humla.

Ecology & behaviour

Snow leopard’s live anywhere from 3,000 to 6,000m during the summer and will descend into the forests as low as 1,200m during winter. Snow leopards spend most of their lives alone on the high mountain ranges and are incredibly secretive and well camouflaged. The snow leopard’s coat is much thicker than other cats and its ears are smaller to reduce heat loss. Snow leopards also have much longer and thicker tails to help them balance on the rocky slopes when they hunt. They are most active during dawn and dusk when they are hunting and roaming their territory. Because their prey is abundant in Nepal, Nepali snow leopards often live much closer together and have smaller territories – some even as small as 12 km2

Diet, behaviour, and threats of extinction

Snow leopards are opportunistic feeders. While they can hunt animals up to three times their size, they will readily scavenge and hunt much smaller prey. In Nepal, snow leopards will prey mostly on Himalayan Blue Sheep, but they will also hunt all sorts of different prey, like tahr, gorals, deer, boars, langur monkeys, and rodents. Snow leopards prefer ambushing their prey from above, where they can chase their prey down steep slopes. They can leap up to 14m at a single time and will chase their prey up to 300m in a single pursuit. When they make a kill they will carry it all the way back to their den and, if it is a larger kill, can live for up to two weeks before having to hunt again. Unusually, their diet also includes a large amount of grasses and twigs, the reason for which is unknown.
Snow leopards will also readily hunt domestic animals, which often bring them into conflict with farmers and herders. However, unlike other larger cats, snow leopards are easily frightened and will readily abandon a kill if they are threatened. They may not even defend themselves if attacked. Due to the rise in poaching and the illegal sale and trade of their furs they are becoming increasingly rare. The Snow Leopard Trust was started to try and conserve wild snow leopard populations before they become extinct.