The Snow Leopard is one of the few cat species in the world today. They are known for their outstanding beauty. The Snow Leopard is easily identified, with their beautiful white and black dotted fur coat. Their pink nose also makes this cat species instantly recognisable and unforgettable.
But their beauty has a downside. They are sadly poached for their fur, something which has resulted in a decline in this cat species. Today, there is only thought to be around 4,000 of these animals left in the wild. Something which makes them particularly vulnerable to extinction.
Is The Snow Leopard Endangered?
Although Snow Leopard's are vulnerable to extinction, they are not classed as an endangered species. Instead, these animals are classed as a 'Vulnerable' species. This means that they are vulnerable to extinction. It also means that these animals are one step away from being classed as an endangered species. If the Snow Leopard becomes an endangered species then they are at risk of becoming extinct forever.
Why Is The Snow Leopard Vulnerable To Extinction?
There are several reasons why the Snow Leopard is vulnerable to extinction. The main threat to their extinction is poaching. These big cats are poached for their fur. Poaching has seen a decline in the number of Snow Leopards. These big cats are also poached for their bones for Asian 'medicine', the use of these bones is something which has no evidence in working. But regardless of that fact, they are continued to be poached for their bones, illegally. Poaching Snow Leopards is illegal, but it continues to happen today. Poaching is the main threat to this animals survival, but it is not the only threat to their survival.
Another threat to the Snow Leopards survival is a loss of their habitat. Their habitat is destroyed by humans for things such as farming. This can result in something else which can be literally deadly to the Snow Leopard - being persecuted by humans when the animal roams in human settlements.
Where Are Snow Leopards Found?
Snow Leopards are typically found in mountainous areas. They can also be found in forest areas. These are the Snow Leopards habitat.
Where On Earth Are They Found?
Snow Leopards are found in the wild throughout numerous countries in Asia and in Russia. They can be found in a total of 12 countries. The 12 countries the Snow Leopard lives in are:
China Afghanistan India Russia Bhutan Khasikstan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Uzbekistan Pakistan Mongolia Nepal
These are the countries where the Snow Leopard can be found.
What Is The Snow Leopard Population?
The exact number of Snow Leopards is not known. It is thought that there is just 4,000 of these animals. But, there could be as many as 6,000 of them left in the wild. Somewhere between 4,000 and 6,000 is estimated to be their population.
What Can You Do To Help Snow Leopards?
You can help these animals in many ways.
You can help by doing something with the Snow Leopard Trust. There are many ways that you can help through the Snow Leopard Trust, such as donating, volunteering and selling Snow Leopard products.
You can find out more here.
Or, you can help them by adopting a Snow Leopard with the WWF. You can find a link here.