The snow leopard is still occasionally called ounce. The genus name, Uncia, is derived from the Old French word once, which was originally used for the European lynx.Panthera uncia (previously: Uncia uncia).Photo: Shan Shui Conservation Center / Peking University / Panthera / Snow Leopard Trust Scientific name and origin Carnivorous: the cat’s main prey are ibex, argali and blue sheepĪ snow leopard on the prowl in China.Gentle: snow leopards are not known to be aggressive toward humans.Cold and dry: the snow leopard primarily lives in arid, barren mountain areas.Single moms: for about 18 months, females raise their cubs – all alone.Living large: some snow leopards have home ranges of up to 1,000 square kilometers.Crepuscular: dawn and dusk are the cat’s most active times.Solo traveller: the snow leopard is usually solitary and highly elusive.Despite a range of over 2 million km2, scientist estimate that there may only be between 3,920 and 6,390 snow leopards left in the wild. Snow leopards are perfectly adapted to the cold, barren landscape of their high-altitude home, but human threats have created an uncertain future for the cats.

Known throughout the world for its beautiful fur and elusive behavior, the endangered snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is found in the rugged mountains of Central Asia.

Snow leopard update