Snow leopards are the world's most elusive  and endangered cats. Very little is known about them and they are rarely seen, since they live in very remote places. 

It is not known how many snow leopards are left in the world, but scientists think there are about 4,000 - 6,500. Illegal hunting and the loss of prey are the main dangers for snow leopards. Sometimes, they are killed by people protecting their livestock or for their fur. They are protected by the governments of all 12 countries that are home to the big cat.

elusive - hard to find

remote - places far away with few people

prey - animals they eat as food

livestock - farm animals

Snow leopards are perhaps the most beautiful of all the big cats. Their lovely, thick, spotted fur keeps them warm in the cold mountains and camouflages them so they will not be seen by their prey.

They have enormous, fur-covered feet that help them to walk on soft snow, like snowshoes. And they have very long, bushy tails that they can use for balance and as a way to keep warm.

Like all cats, they have powerful legs that enable them to jump long distances. Snow leopards can jump distances of up to 50 feet (15 metres)!

Snow leopards grow up to 7 feet (2.1m) long, not including the tail which can be 3 feet (.9m) long! They weigh from 50-90 pounds (23-41 kg).

Snow leopards live 10-12 years.

camouflage - hides 

snowshoes - long, flat boards worn under shoes or boots to help people walk on the snow

balance - ability to stay upright / not fall down

Snow leopards are top predators. This means that no other animal (besides people) kill them. They are carnivores and can only eat meat. They can kill animals that are 3 times their own weight in very challenging places.

They usually hunt blue sheep, ibex, hares, pika, marmots and other small animals or birds.

predators - animals that hunt others for food

carnivores - animals that only eat meat 

challenging - difficult

Snow leopard mothers will have a litter of 1-5 babies, called cubs. They are born in June or July. 

The cubs are small and helpless when they are born. They cannot open their eyes for about a week. They will stay in the den and drink their mother's milk until they are 2 or 3 months old. Around that time, they will start eating other food that their mum brings home.

When they are a little older, they can start to follow their mother when she goes hunting so they can learn from her. When they are 2 years old, they are ready to live on their own.

litter - a group of animal babies