Scientific Name: Uncia uncia
Other Common Names: Ounce

The Snow Leopard is not closely related to the Leopard or the other members of the Pantherine group and is classified as the sole member of the genus Uncia. The main differences are in its skull and vocal chords.

It is predominantly grey with brownish-yellow tinges on its flanks and lighter fur on its belly, chest and chin. The head, which sports small ears, is rounded and comparatively small for its body size. The long tail helps the cat balance as it moves over rugged terrain. The fur is long and woolly and helps protect the cat from the cold.

Snow leopards generally inhabit elevations between 2000-4000 meters. They are found in rocky terrain such as high valley ridges, rocky outcrops and mountain passes. As summer gives way to winter, they follow migrating prey down below the tree line to the lowland forests. The main prey is wild sheep such as Bharal (blue sheep) and Argali and goats like Markhor and Ibex. Other prey taken includes musk deer, marmots, hare and birds. Commonly they are solitary hunters but during the breeding season, a pair may share the task.

Snow leopards are found in the mountainous regions of central Asia, ranging in the north from Russia and Mongolia down through China and Tibet into the Himalayan regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. Although the total area of their range is extremely large, the actual areas in which they are found are relatively small and fragmented. Exact numbers left in the wild is unknown, but it is estimated to be as low as 4,500.

The decline in population has been mainly due to hunting and trapping for fur and for the bones used in many Chinese medicines.