Snow leopard, sometimes called the ounce, is a large cat that lives high in the mountains of central Asia. A snow leopard has thick, pale gray fur that may show hints of tan. The fur is sprinkled with black spots. A snow leopard uses its long, fluffy tail to help maintain balance on steep, rocky slopes.
Adult snow leopards weigh 75 to 120 pounds (34 to 54 kilograms) and measure 39 to 51 inches (99 to 130 centimeters) long, not including the tail. Snow leopards may climb to heights of 18,000 feet (5,500 meters) above sea level to cross mountain passes.
When hunting, snow leopards quietly stalk prey and then spring on it. People have seen snow leopards leap up to 50 feet (15 meters). Snow leopards eat mainly wild sheep and goats, along with birds and small mammals.
Snow leopards cannot roar, but they yowl loudly. They also make scrapes in the soil with their back legs and spray boulders with a strong scent. These signals warn away other snow leopards. The signals also help males and females find each other in the mating season.
Females usually have litters of one to three cubs. Cubs remain with their mother for about 20 months. Snow leopards are otherwise solitary, except when mating.
Only a few thousand snow leopards remain in the wild. Snow leopards may kill livestock, which displace their native prey. Shepherds sometimes kill the cats in response. People also prize snow leopard fur, bones, and organs. Buying and selling such parts is illegal. Conservation groups are helping local people learn to live peacefully with snow leopards.
