Snow Leopards
How Neat is That?
Basic Info
Fun Fact: Snow Leopards cannot roar
Location
Why is this big cat endangered?
Why Should We Care?
As the top predator in the high mountains of Inner Asia, the snow leopard plays an important ecological role in controlling the populations and health of the wild ungulate species it preys on. While the Asiatic brown bears that overlap the snow leopard’s range subsist largely on pikas, marmots, scavenged meat and plant matter, the snow leopard subsists almost entirely on large animals caught live, frequently sick or injured animals. Protecting the snow leopard, its prey species, and its habitat is critical to protecting broader eco-regions as well, such as the high altitude grasslands and wetlands of the Yangtze Source Region.
Economically
The snow leopard actually has a negative effect on an economic scale as snow leopards prey on the livestock (mostly sheep, goats, horses, yaks) of ranchers. This economic effect has been neutralized through a protection act which reimburses ranchers for their lost livestock.