With less than five thousand snow leopards left, the chances of seeing this creature in the wild are slim. To make the odds even worse, this creature is crepuscular and nocturnal.
It wanders over a large home range in search of prey, including yaks, mountain goats, and bharals.
Like many big cats, it leads a solitary life, only coming together with members of the opposite sex to mate.
Despite its protected status, this species is still hunted and its skins are sold on the black market.
In addition, it has lost some of its habitat to agriculture, which has also threatened its favored prey.
Hunting livestock almost inevitably results in its death at the hands of farmers.
Ready for the next mammal? Check out the Yak.
Can a leopard change its spots? Click here to watch.
Back to Alpine — Overview.