Snow Leopard

Snow Leopard

Distribution

Central Asia

Diet

Carnivore

Habitat

Mountains

Latin Name

Panthera uncia

IUCN conservation status

These stealthy felines rely on their grey and white speckled coat to camouflage themselves and surprise their prey.

Solitary and Opportunistic Predators

Capable of killing prey three times their size, they feed on wild goats, deer, marmots and wild boar. They can leap more than 10 metres to catch their prey, which they often hunt over very rough terrain.

A Body Perfectly Adapted to the Cold

A woolly layer covered with dense fur forms these felines' coat. Their nasal cavities are larger than that of other felines, allowing them to partially warm the air before it enters their lungs. Their bushy tail is about a metre long and serves as a scarf to keep their muzzle warm while they rest.

Timely Meetings for Reproduction Purposes

Difficult to observe, the snow leopard wanders alone for most of its adult life. However, couples spend a few weeks together during the breeding season. The female takes care of her cubs alone and the young stay with their mother until they reach the age of 18 to 24 months.

Declining Populations, Mainly Due to Poaching

It’s estimated that there are as few as 4,000 snow leopards left in the wild. Hunted illegally for their beautiful coats, a decline in their prey populations has also been noted. They’re also hunted by ranchers who accuse them of preying on domestic herds.

Featured

Elsa

Date of birth

May 31, 2015

Weight

75.9 lb / 34.5 kg

Profile

Born here at the Zoo de Granby, Elsa is following in her mother's footsteps to ensure the survival of the species and helping to maintain the species' genetics, by becoming a mother herself in 2021.

Fun fact

Elsa has a playful, dynamic and curious nature. She responds well to trainings and various enrichments: an exemplary snow leopard!

Other animals from Asia

Adopt Elsa

By adopting Elsa, you are not only creating a special bond between yourself and one of our star animals, but you are also directly participating in the Zoo de Granby's conservation education mission.