Snow Leopard

big cats · mountains · Asia

High-altitude hero. Snow leopards live in the mountains of Central and South Asia, often at heights of 3,000 to 4,500 meters, that's higher than many airplanes fly when you watch from a city!

Built for cold. Their thick, smoky-gray fur with dark spots keeps them warm and helps them blend perfectly into rocky, snowy slopes.

Snowshoe paws. Their wide, furry paws act like natural snowshoes, helping them walk on top of deep snow without sinking.

Wide range. They roam from eastern Afghanistan and the Himalayas across the Tibetan Plateau to Mongolia, Siberia, and western China.

True big cat. Snow leopards belong to the genus Panthera, the same group as lions, tigers, and leopards.