III.

Habitat and Prey

Snow leopards typically inhabit treeless mountain regions, alpine meadows, and arid shrubland. They generally prefer steep, rocky terrain that provides favorable hunting conditions. In the winter the snow leopard ranges at or below altitudes of 1,800 m (6,000 ft), but in the summer it may ascend to elevations between 2,700 and 6,000 m (between 9,000 and 20,000 ft).

The snow leopard’s geographic range is closely related to the animals on which it preys. In the Himalayas the snow leopard preys primarily on bharal. In China and Kazakhstan, it preys primarily on ibex. It is capable of killing an animal three times its own weight. The snow leopard also hunts smaller animals across its range including marmots, pikas, hares, and birds. It will also prey on domestic sheep, goats, and dogs, and it is sometimes killed by people in retaliation. On average, the cat can survive by killing one large prey animal every 10 to 15 days.