Quick answer
Snow leopards (Panthera uncia) are high-Asian cats, IUCN Vulnerable after a 2017 criteria downlist — not a census rebound. The assessment used about 2,710–3,386 mature animals across 12 countries. They hunt bharal, ibex and argali. They are not Panthera pardus. Figures checked 13 August 2026.
What is a snow leopard?
A solitary big cat of high Asia, typically 22–55 kg, with a long tail for balance and a coat built for frost. “Rare mountain cat” without the 2017 date and the survey-gap caveat was the thin version of this page. Wild lives often run about 10–12 years if the ungulates remain.
What ecology actually matters?
Carnivore on cliffs: bharal, ibex, argali first. Empty mountains cannot hold them. Twelve countries from the Himalaya through the Altai — not African savanna, not a thirteenth “range state” in a zoo.
How should people treat them?
Watch from a ridge or a hide; never bait. A livestock kill is a herding problem, not proof they “prefer” goats. They are not pets. A mascot does not restock ibex.
Is Vulnerable an all-clear?
No. IUCN moved them from Endangered in 2017 because they did not meet Endangered thresholds — under 2,500 mature plus a steep ongoing decline. That is not the giant-panda census story. Most of the 1.2–1.8 million km² map has never been surveyed properly.
Why the thick tail and snowshoe paws?
Dense fur, wide paws and a tail that doubles as a blanket keep a cat on scree at 3,000–5,500 m. Anatomy locks the map. It does not reconnect empty ridges or cancel revenge killing.
Do they hunt in groups?
Adults hunt alone on steep ground. Each home range still needs a prey base. WARN’s habitat appeal funds partner mountain-habitat work — not a Himalayan camp.
Sources
Snow Leopard FAQs
What are key facts about snow leopards?
Snow leopards (Panthera uncia) are high-Asian cats, IUCN Vulnerable after a 2017 criteria downlist — not a panda-style census rebound. The assessment used about 2,710–3,386 mature animals across 12 countries. They hunt bharal, ibex and argali. They are not Panthera pardus. Figures checked 13 August 2026.
Are snow leopards the same as leopards?
No. African and Asian leopards are Panthera pardus. Snow leopards occupy cliffs from the Himalaya through the Altai. Clouded leopards are a third lineage. Mixing the pins produces the false story that a Kruger postcard protects the Himalaya.
What do they eat, and how long do they live?
Wild ungulates first: blue sheep (bharal), ibex, argali, plus marmots. Livestock kills are conflict, not a zoo menu. Wild adults often live about 10–12 years; cubs, empty ridges and revenge killing cut the average. Never feed or bait a cat for a photograph.
What actually helps snow leopards?
Keep wild ungulates on the mountain and cut retaliatory killing. World Animal Rescue Network funds habitat-protection partners — not Himalayan camps.
Who this page is for.Read the snow leopard profile if you want the full biology; this page answers one question.