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A rare big cat of the high mountains, with thick grey-white spotted fur and a very long tail that it wraps around itself for warmth.
Snow leopards live above the tree line, often between 3,000 and 5,000 metres. They hunt wild sheep and goats such as the ibex and markhor, and can leap long distances across rocky slopes. They are so shy and well camouflaged that they are rarely seen, earning the name 'ghost of the mountains'.
When wild prey is scarce, snow leopards sometimes kill livestock, and herders may kill them in revenge. Poaching for their fur and bones, and loss of prey, are also threats.
Organizations such as the Snow Leopard Foundation work with mountain communities on livestock insurance schemes and predator-proof corrals, so that families do not lose their income when a snow leopard attacks.