Snow Leopard

Snow Leopard. . , Snow leopards are one of the least understood of the big cats, because their secretive nature and remote habitat make them difficult to study. Their exact numbers are not known, but it is believed there are a between 4,500 and 10,000 snow leopards living in the wild., Snow leopards are hunted for their fur, bones and other body parts. The illegal wildlife trade is the primary threat to the snow leopard's survival. With continued human encroachment into snow leopard territory, encounters between leopards and domestic species are increasing. Many snow leopards are killed by farmers who fear the leopards and domestic species are increasing. MAny snow leopards are killed by farmers who fear the leopards will prey on their livestock., The main sources of food for snow leopards are wild sheep and goats. The number of these animals is declining due to over-hunting by humans. Your zoo participates in the snow leopard Species Survival Plan breeding program with other Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited institutions to ensure healthy populations of this rare species in human care.