| MEASUREMENT | MALE | FEMALE |
| HEAD TO BODY LENGTH | 15 to 21 kg (33 to 46 lb) | 10 to 17 kg (22 to 37 lb) |
| SHOULDER HEIGHT | 50 cm (20 in) | 50 cm (20 in) |
| TAIL LENGTH | 15 to 18 inches (40 to 45 centimeters) | 15 to 18 inches (40 to 45 centimeters) |
| WEIGHT | weighing 14 to 18 kilograms (31 to 40 pounds). | 12 to 16 kilograms (26 to 35 pounds) |
| CHARACTERISTICS | DESCRIPTION |
| RANGE | WEST OF BAIKAL THROUGH SOUTHERN SIBERIA in the Kunlun Mountains, Altai Mountains, Sayan and Tannu-Ola Mountains, in the Tian Shan, through Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to the Hindu Kush in eastern Afghanistan, Karakoram in northern Pakistan. |
| HABITAT | IN THE PAMIR MOUNTAINS, THE TIBETAN PLATEAU AND IN THE HIGH ELEVATIONS OF THE HIMALAYAS IN INDIA, NEPAL AND BHUTAN. |
| PRIMARY DIET | CARNIVORE. WILD SHEEP & GOAT SUCH AS BLUE SHEEP & IBEX |
| DIET | THE SNOW LEOPARD IS A CARNIVORE AND ACTIVELY HUNTS ITS PREY. ITS PREFERRED WILD PREY SPECIES ARE HIMALAYAN BLUE SHEEP (PSEUDOIS NAYAUR), HIMALAYAN TAHR (HEMITRAGUS JEMLAHICUS), ARGALI (OVIS AMMON), MARKHOR (CAPRA FALCONERI) AND WILD GOAT (C. AEGAGRUS) |
| CONSERVATION STATUS | VULNERABLE |
| REASON FOR THE STATUS | DECREASING, DUE TO HABITAT LOSS AND POACHING |
| CHARACTERISTICS | DESCRIPTION – MALES & FEMALES (COMMON) |
| WEANING | 5 MONTHS |
| GESTATION PERIOD | 90 – 105 DAYS |
| SEXUAL MATURITY | 2-3 YEARS. Male snow leopards become sexually mature by age 4. |
| BEHAVIOR | Snow leopards are shy, elusive cats known for their solitary nature. These cats are most active at dawn and dusk, which is called a “crepuscular activity pattern” by scientist. Snow leopards regularly patrol home ranges that can cover hundreds of square kilometers. Snow leopards make sounds similar to those made by other large cats, including a purr, mew, hiss, growl, moan, and yowl. However, snow leopards cannot roar due to the physiology of their throat, and instead make a non-aggressive puffing sound called a ‘chuff’. Snow leopards are not aggressive towards humans. There has never been a verified snow leopard attack on a human being. Even if disturbed while feeding, a snow leopard is more likely to run away than try to defend the site. Once the cubs are about 2 years old, they begin to disperse from their mother and set out on their own. In order to communicate snow leopards leave markings on the landscape that other cats will find. They scrape the ground with their hind legs and spray urine against rocks to mark their territory or locate mates. |
| MATING | Sometimes a male and female might be seen together during mating season, or we might see a mother with her young cubs. Mating season for wild snow leopards is between January and mid-March. During this time, a male and a female will travel together for a few days and copulate. |
| LIFECYCLE | Cubs are small and helpless when they are born, and do not open their eyes until they are about 7 days old. At 2 months old, cubs are ready to eat solid food. At 3 months old, they begin following their mother and start to learn important behavior like hunting. At 18-22 months old, cubs become independent of their mothers. Based on limited data available from the wild, it appears that female snow leopards are ready to have their own cubs by age 3. |
| LIFESPAN IN WILD | Life in the wild is much harder, so the life expectancy of wild snow leopards is more likely to be 10 to 12 years. |
| LIFESPAN IN CAPTIVITY | snow leopards have been known to live for as long as 22 years. |
