What we know about snow leopards: 5 interesting facts about the big mountain cat

Often called "ghosts of the mountains," snow leopards are one of the most elusive and fascinating creatures in the world. The ability of these animals to adapt to extremely low temperatures and survive in the mountains is amazing.

"Unfortunately," writes News Bytes, "today these big cats are on the verge of extinction, which is very worrying for scientists and wildlife advocates. And if this is your first time hearing about snow leopards, here are 5 interesting facts about them."

Masters of high-altitude tricks

Snow leopards inhabit some of the harshest and most remote landscapes on Earth.

According to BioDB, a non-profit wildlife conservation website, these big cats have evolved to live at altitudes ranging from 3,000 to 5,200 meters above sea level. And their permanent habitat is the harsh Himalayas, where leopards overcome steep rocky slopes and cliffs with impressive agility.

Why do leopards have thick fur and a long tail?

Snow leopards have thick, smoky gray or yellow fur, decorated with characteristic black rosettes and spots.

"This luxurious coat not only provides camouflage, but also serves as a natural defense against the piercing cold in their alpine homes," says BioDB founder and CEO Assaf Levy.

In addition, they have muscular tails up to a meter long, which help the animals maintain their balance when climbing rocks.

They are ruthless hunters

The powerful physique of snow leopards allows them to make jumps of up to 9 meters. This is how they hunt large herbivores such as bharals, mountain goats, and smaller animals such as hares and marmots.

Note that snow leopards can easily cope with animals that weigh three times their own weight. And they usually drag their prey to a safe place to eat without fear of other predators.

Leopards cannot growl

Snow leopards, unlike tigers or panthers, cannot growl. Instead, they meow and purr like normal cats, and usually mark their presence with a sound that observers describe as a "piercing howl"

The snow leopard is endangered

Snow leopards are threatened with extinction due to climate change, habitat loss due to human activities and poaching.

One of the main strategies for preserving their population today is the creation of protected areas and reserves in their natural habitats. These specially designated areas provide animals with safe havens in the face of an immediate threat of habitat destruction.