Notes

There are too many people/hunters killing snow leopards and this is getting crazy there are very rare in most of their range, an estimated 3,500 to 7,000 snow leopards are left in the wild, with 600 - 700 in zoos around the world. Exact numbers in the wild have not been determined due to the snow leopard's shy nature.

They are important for their environment, because they control growth of herbivore's population, weeding out sick, old and deranged herbivores. Thus they avoid risk of herbivores eating all available seeds, leaves or roots, leading to over depredation of natural resources.


The "Snow Leopard"(Uncia uncia[1] or Panthera uncia[2]), sometimes known as the ounce, is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of central and southern Asia. The taxonomic position of this species has been subject to change. In the past, many taxonomists included the snow leopard in the genus Panthera, with several of the other largest fields, but later it was placed in its own genus, Uncia. However, most recent molecular studies place the species firmly within the genus Panthera, although the exact position remains unclear.[2] Along with the clouded leopard, it represents an intermediate between so-called big cats and smaller species, as it cannot roar, despite possessing a cartilaginous hyoid apparatus which is thought essential in allowing the big cats to roar.[1] Despite its name, the snow leopard is not closely related to the leopard, and is thought to be more closely related to the cheetah.[3] Both cats share similar physical characteristics, such as round skulls, long legs and large counter-balancing tails. The cheetah, like the snow leopard, is also incapable of roaring, a trait only known in the Pantherine cats.