The Snow Leopard is an interesting animal. A Snow Leopard has very well developed hearing and vision. They are well adapt to living in the mountains in the cold or in a valley in warm weather. Can jump up to 15 meters! That is one huge leap. The Snow Leopard is endangered because of its pelt. It is usually soft gray with white on it’s belly. They have large brown splotches over there body.

Although the Snow Leopard can be found in The Toronto Zoo, it is found in the wild living in Primarily in the Himalayan Mountains, from Myanmar moving west through China, Nepal, India, Pakistan and back east through Kazakhstan, Mongolia and the Gobi Desert. Found inhabiting areas of rocky wilderness, snow fields, glaciers and alpine meadows on the edge of juniper and spruce forests. Known to migrate seasonally from higher to lower zones (summer to winter).

The Snow Leopard is currently endangered. If they are to continue to exist we as human beings will have to stop hunting them and breed the so we can bring back the population. Snow leopards are hunted for their pelts; bones, and body parts are taken for use in traditional Asian medicine. They are threatened by the depletion of their natural prey base due to competition with livestock and from humans hunting wild mountain sheep and goats for trophies and food. Snow leopards are persecuted by herders who retaliate by trapping, poisoning, or shooting them. Snow leopards also suffer from the degradation, loss and fragmentation of their habitat.

The Snow Leopard are indeed a very unique and necessary part of the world. Mankind will either live with them or without them (I hope not) depending on our actions. Hopefully we will make the right choices that will enable the Snow Leopard sustainability on this planet.