The snow leopard lives higher than almost any other big cat, crossing the steep, rocky slopes of Central Asia's mountains at elevations up to 18,000 feet. Thick fur, a long tail for balance, and wide paws that work like snowshoes make it suited to cold and thin air. It is rarely seen, which is part of why it took scientists so long to estimate how many remain.
The IUCN Red List lists the snow leopard as Vulnerable, with an estimated 4,000 to 6,500 left across twelve countries. Retaliatory killing by herders who lose livestock, poaching for pelts, and the warming of mountain habitat all press on the population. Community-led programs that compensate herders and build predator-proof corrals have shown that people and snow leopards can share the same valleys.
No projects have listed this species yet. If you run a project that protects the Snow Leopard, you can add it to Wildlife Connect.
