Snow Leopard
Panthera uncia
A smoky-gray big cat of Central Asia's high mountains with huge furry paws and a long tail it wraps around itself for warmth.
Checking teacher reviews…
About the Snow Leopard
Snow leopards live on high mountain cliffs and rocky slopes in 12 countries of Central Asia, as high as 18,000 feet in summer. Their thick, smoky gray coats and furry paws protect them from the cold. A snow leopard can leap as far as six times its body length to pounce on prey such as blue sheep, ibex and marmots. Snow leopards cannot roar, but they can purr and make a friendly "chuff" sound.[1]
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Panthera uncia[1]
- Size
- 39 to 51 inches (99 to 130 cm) long, plus a 31 to 39 inch (80 to 100 cm) tail. Females are slightly smaller.[1]
- Weight
- Males 99 to 121 pounds. Females 77 to 88 pounds.[1]
- Lifespan
- Possibly 10 to 13 years in the wild. Up to 22 years in zoos.[1]
- Diet
- Carnivore. Blue sheep, ibex, marmots, game birds, rodents and sometimes livestock.[1]
- Habitat
- High mountain cliffs and rocky slopes, up to 18,000 feet (6,000 m) in summer.[1]
- Where it lives
- 12 countries in Central Asia.[1]
- Group life
- Solitary and nomadic.[1]
- Babies
- Pregnancy lasts 98 to 104 days. Usually 2 cubs, which leave their mother at 18 to 22 months.[1]
- Conservation status
- Vulnerable (IUCN Red List, assessed 2016).[2]
Fun facts
Vocabulary
- nomadic
- Moving from place to place instead of staying in one home.
- ibex
- A wild mountain goat with long, curved horns.
- marmot
- A large ground squirrel that lives in burrows in the mountains.
- pounce
- To jump suddenly onto something to catch it.
- vulnerable
- A conservation label meaning a species faces a high risk of dying out in the wild.
See it in person
- Montgomery ZooMontgomery, Alabama · South AmericaSee this area on the zoo's website ↗
- San Francisco Zoo & GardensSan Francisco, California · MammalsSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗
- Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and AquariumOmaha, Nebraska · Asian HighlandsSee this area on the zoo's website ↗
These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.
Sources
- [1] San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. “Snow Leopard.” https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/snow-leopard (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Panthera uncia (Snow Leopard).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22732/50664030 (accessed 2026-10-02)
Facts last checked 2026-10-02.
