# Where Do Snow Leopards Live?

> Snow leopards live only in 12 high-Asian countries — Himalaya to Altai — not African savanna. Typical elevations 3,000–5,500 m.

- **Species:** Snow Leopard (*Panthera uncia*)
- **Conservation status:** Vulnerable
- **Diet:** Carnivore
- **Habitat:** High mountains and alpine zones
- **Lifespan:** 10–12 years in the wild
- **Top speed:** Up to 65 km/h (40 mph)
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/snow-leopard/where-do-snow-leopard-live/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/snow-leopard/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The snow leopard is a rare big cat native to the high mountains of Central and South Asia, including the Himalayas. Superbly adapted to cold, rugged terrain, it has thick fur, a long tail for balance, and can leap up to 15 m (50 ft). Wild snow leopards typically live 10 to 12 years.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a sighting hotline. This page is native range and habitat.

## Built for the cold and the heights

Snow leopards are perfectly adapted to harsh mountain life. Thick fur and a dense undercoat keep them warm, wide furry paws act like snowshoes, and an extremely long, thick tail helps them balance on steep terrain and wraps around the body like a blanket when resting. They can leap up to six times their body length.

## Help protect the Snow Leopard

Snow leopards are losing mountain habitat and prey, and remain a target for the illegal wildlife trade.

[Donate to protect habitat](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/appeals/habitats/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/snow-leopard/where-do-snow-leopard-live/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.