Where do snow leopards live? And 9 other snow leopard facts

The document outlines the characteristics and ecological role of snow leopards, noting their presence in 12 countries across northern and central Asia. It identifies critical threats to the species, including poaching, human-wildlife conflict, and climate change, the latter of which could eliminate up to 30% of their Himalayan habitat. WWF's conservation efforts focus on reducing retaliatory killings, stopping mining in fragile habitats, and controlling illegal wildlife trade.

• Snow leopards inhabit high mountains across northern and central Asia, including the Himalayan region, where they are found in 12 countries such as China, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Russia, and Mongolia. In the Himalayas, they typically live in high alpine areas above the tree line at elevations up to 18,000 feet.
• The wild population of snow leopards is estimated to be between 4,080 and 6,590 individuals, and the species is classified as 'Vulnerable' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• Snow leopards face multiple threats, including poaching, habitat loss from human encroachment, and retaliatory killings by farmers and herders when leopards kill livestock due to a lack of natural prey. Climate change is identified as a primary long-term threat, with the potential to cause a loss of up to 30% of snow leopard habitat in the Himalayas.
• WWF implements several strategies to protect the species, including efforts to reduce human-leopard conflict, stopping mining in fragile habitats, controlling the illegal wildlife trade, and promoting sustainable development education.

APA

WWF International (n.d.). Where do snow leopards live? And 9 other snow leopard facts. https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/facts/where-do-snow-leopards-live-and-nine-other-snow-leopard-facts/

Chicago

WWF International. Where do snow leopards live? And 9 other snow leopard facts. n.d. https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/facts/where-do-snow-leopards-live-and-nine-other-snow-leopard-facts/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Where do snow leopards live? And 9 other snow leopard facts |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/facts/where-do-snow-leopards-live-and-nine-other-snow-leopard-facts/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternationalndwhere, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Where do snow leopards live? And 9 other snow leopard facts}}, institution = {WWF International}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/facts/where-do-snow-leopards-live-and-nine-other-snow-leopard-facts/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }