Know Before You Go

Snow leopards have evolved to live in some of the harshest conditions on Earth. Their thick white-gray coat spotted with large black rosettes blends in perfectly with Asia’s steep and rocky, high mountains. Because of their incredible natural camouflage, rendering them almost invisible in their surroundings, snow leopards are often referred to as the “ghost of the mountains.” The snow leopard’s powerful build allows it to scale great steep slopes with ease. Its hind legs give the snow leopard the ability to leap six times the length of its body. A long tail enables agility, provides balance and wraps around the resting snow leopard as protection from the cold. For millennia, this magnificent cat has been king of the mountains. Snow leopards share their Himalayan home with smaller predators such as Tibetan fox and Tibetan wolves. They prey on blue sheep, argali wild sheep, ibex, marmots, pikas and hares. Click the links below to learn more about each species.