Snow leopard - wikipedia Snow leopard This article is about the cat. For other uses, see Snow Leopard ( disambiguation ). Snow leopard Snow leopard in the San Diego Zoo Conservation status Vulnerable ( IUCN 3.1 ) Scientific classification Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Mammalia Order : Carnivora Suborder : Feliformia Family : Felidae Genus : Panthera Species : P. uncia Binomial name Panthera uncia ( Schreber, 1775 ) Subspecies See text Range map Synonyms Felis irbis Ehrenberg, 1830 ( = Felis uncia Schreber, 1775 ), by subsequent designation ( Palmer, 1904 ). Uncia uncia Pocock, 1930 The snow leopard or ounce ( Panthera uncia syn. Uncia uncia ) is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because, as of 2003, the size of the global wild population was estimated at 4,080 -- 6,590 adults. Fewer than 2,500 individuals may be reproducing in the wild. As of 2016, estimates for the size of the global population vary from at least 4,080 to about 8,700 individuals. Snow leopards inhabit alpine and subalpine zones at elevations from 3,000 to 4,500 m ( 9,800 to 14,800 ft ). In the northern range countries, they also occur at lower elevations. Taxonomically, the snow leopard has been classified as Uncia uncia since the early 1930s. Based on genotyping studies, the cat has been considered a member of the genus Panthera since 2008. Two subspecies have been attributed, but genetic differences between the two have not been settled. Contents 1 Naming and etymology 2 Taxonomy and evolution 3 Subspecies 4 Description 5 Distribution and habitat 6 Ecology and behavior 6.1 Hunting and diet 6.2 Reproduction and life cycle 7 Conservation efforts 7.1 Global Snow Leopard Forum 7.1. 1 Bishkek Declaration 7.1. 2 Global Snow Leopard and Eco-system Protection Program 7.2 2015 designated International Year of the Snow Leopard 7.3 Population and protected areas 8 Relationships with humans 8.1 Attacks on humans and livestock 8.2 Emblematic use 8.3 In the media 8.3. 1 Documentary 8.3. 2 Non-Fiction 8.3. 3 Fictional 9 References 10 Further reading 11 External links Naming and etymology Both the latinized genus name, Uncia, and the occasional English name ounce are derived from the Old French once, originally used for the European lynx. Once itself is believed to have arisen by back - formation from an earlier variant of lynx, lonce -- the `` l '' of lonce was construed as an abbreviated la ( ' the ' ), leaving once to be perceived as the animal 's name. This, like the English version ounce, came to be used for other lynx - sized cats, and eventually for the snow leopard. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the origin of the word panthera is unknown. A folk etymology derives the word from the Greek πάν pan ( `` all '' ) and thēr ( beast of prey ) because they can hunt and kill almost anything. It was proposed to have come ultimately into Greek from a Sanskrit word meaning `` the yellowish animal '' or `` whitish - yellow ''. The Greek word πάνθηρ, pánthēr, referred to all spotted felines generically. Taxonomy and evolution Closeup of a male snow leopard. Two cladograms proposed for Panthera. The upper cladogram is based on the 2006 and 2009 studies, while the other is based on the 2010 and 2011 studies. The species was first described by the German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber on the basis of an illustration in his 1777 publication Die Säugethiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen. Schreber named the cat Felis uncia and gave its type locality as Barbary, Persia, East India, and China. In 1854, the British zoologist John Edward Gray proposed the genus Uncia, to which he subordinated the snow leopard under the name Uncia irbis. British zoologist Reginald Innes Pocock corroborated this classification, but attributed the scientific name Uncia uncia. He also described morphological differences between snow leopards and the then - accepted members of Panthera. The snow leopard is part of the Panthera lineage, one of the eight lineages of Felidae. This lineage comprises the species of Panthera and Neofelis. The Neofelis lineage diverged first remainder of the Felinae ( see figure ). Subsequent branching between the snow leopard and clouded leopard began two to three million years ago, but the details of this are disputed. A 2006 phylogenetic study by Warren E. Johnson ( of the National Cancer Institute ) and colleagues, based on nDNA and mtDNA analysis, showed that the leopard is sister to two clades within Panthera -- one consisting of the tiger and the snow leopard, and the other of the lion and the jaguar. This was seconded by a 2009 study by Lars Werdelin and colleagues. However, the results obtained in a 2010 study by Brian W. Davis ( of the Texas A&M University ) and colleagues and a 2011 study by Ji H. Mazák ( of the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum ) and colleagues showed a swapping between the leopard and the jaguar in the cladogram. A 2016 study indicates that, at some point in their evolution, snow leopards interbred with lions, as their mitochondrial genomes are more similar to each other than their nuclear genomes. From this research, it is indicated that a female hybrid offspring of male ancestors of modern snow leopards and female ancestors of modern lions interbred with the male ancestors of modern snow leopards. Subspecies The snow leopard subspecies U. u. baikalensis - romanii was proposed for a population living in the southern Transbaikal region ; this requires further evaluation. Authors of the Handbook of the Mammals of the World recognize two subspecies, namely U. u. uncia occurring in Mongolia and Russia ; and U. u. uncioides living in western China and the Himalayas. More recently, Janecka et. al. have proposed three total subspecies : a Northern ( Altai region ) P. u. irbis, a Central ( core Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau ) P. u. uncioides, and Western ( Tian Shan, Pamir, trans - Himalaya regions ) P. u. uncia. Description Snow leopard skull. Snow leopards are slightly smaller than the other big cats but, like them, exhibit a range of sizes, generally weighing between 27 and 55 kg ( 60 and 121 lb ), with an occasional large male reaching 75 kg ( 165 lb ) and small female of under 25 kg ( 55 lb ). They have a relatively short body, measuring in length from the head to the base of the tail 75 to 150 cm ( 30 to 60 in ). However, the tail is quite long, at 80 to 100 cm ( 31 to 39 in ), with only the domestic - cat - sized marbled cat being relatively longer - tailed. They are stocky and short - legged big cats, standing about 60 cm ( 24 in ) at the shoulder. Snow leopards have long, thick fur, and their base color varies from smoky gray to yellowish tan, with whitish underparts. They have dark grey to black open rosettes on their bodies, with small spots of the same color on their heads and larger spots on their legs and tails. Unusually among cats, their eyes are pale green or grey in color. Large paw with thick fur on underside Snow leopards show several adaptations for living in a cold, mountainous environment. Their bodies are stocky, their fur is thick, and their ears are small and rounded, all of which help to minimize heat loss. Their paws are wide, which distributes their weight better for walking on snow, and have fur on their undersides to increase their grip on steep and unstable surfaces ; it also helps to minimize heat loss. Snow leopards ' tails are long and flexible, helping them to maintain their balance, which is very important in the rocky terrain they inhabit. Their tails are also very thick due to fat storage and are very thickly covered with fur, which allows them to be used like a blanket to protect their faces when asleep. The snow leopard has a short muzzle and domed forehead, containing unusually large nasal cavities that help the animal breathe the thin, cold air of their mountainous environment. The snow leopard can not roar, despite possessing partial ossification of the hyoid bone. This partial ossification was previously thought to be essential for allowing the big cats to roar, but new studies show that the ability to roar is due to other morphological features, especially of the larynx, which are absent in the snow leopard. Snow leopard vocalizations include hisses, chuffing, mews, growls, and wailing. Snow leopards were only reclassified as a member of the Panthera genus ( big cats ) following a genetic study by Mr Brian Davis, Dr Gang Li and Professor William Murphy in 2009. This study showed that snow leopards actually evolved alongside tigers and not leopards as previously thought. Distribution and habitat Snow leopard at Hemis National Park, India. The snow leopard is distributed from the west of Lake Baikal through southern Siberia, in the Kunlun Mountains, in the Russian Altai mountains, Sayan and Tannu - Ola Mountains, in the Tian Shan, across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan to the Hindu Kush in eastern Afghanistan, Karakoram in northern Pakistan, in the Pamir Mountains, and in the high altitudes of the Himalayas in India, Nepal, and Bhutan, and the Tibetan Plateau. In Mongolia, it is found in the Mongolian and Gobi Altai Mountains and the Khangai Mountains. In Tibet, it is found up to the Altyn - Tagh in the north. Potential snow leopard habitat in the Indian Himalayas is estimated at less than 90,000 km ( 35,000 sq mi ) in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh, of which about 34,000 km ( 13,000 sq mi ) is considered good habitat, and 14.4 % is protected. In the beginning of the 1990s, the Indian snow leopard population was estimated at roughly 200 -- 600 individuals living across about 25 protected areas. In summer, snow leopards usually live above the tree line on mountainous meadows and in rocky regions at altitudes from 2,700 to 6,000 m ( 8,900 to 19,700 ft ). In winter, they come down into the forests to altitudes around 1,200 to 2,000 m ( 3,900 to 6,600 ft ). Snow leopards prefer rocky, broken terrain, and can travel without difficulty in snow up to 85 cm ( 33 in ) deep, although they prefer to use existing trails made by other animals. Snow leopard in Ladakh Global warming has caused the tree line to be increased in altitude, resulting in the decrease of wild prey that depend on the plants for food. Ecology and behavior Snow leopard in Wakhan district, Afghanistan. The snow leopard is solitary, except for females with cubs. They rear them in dens in the mountains for extended periods. An individual snow leopard lives within a well - defined home range, but does not defend its territory aggressively when encroached upon by other snow leopards. Home ranges vary greatly in size. In Nepal, where prey is abundant, a home range may be as small as 12 km ( 5 sq mi ) to 40 km ( 15 sq mi ) and up to five to 10 animals are found here per 100 km ( 39 sq mi ) ; in habitats with sparse prey, though, an area of 1,000 km ( 386 sq mi ) supports only five of these cats. However, a new study lasting from 2008 to 2014 indicates their ranges are much greater than believed ; a male snow leopard requires a territory of around 80 square miles, while females require up to 48 square miles of territory. Taking this data into account, it is estimated that 40 percent of the 170 protected areas in place are smaller than the space required to support a single male snow leopard. Like other cats, snow leopards use scent marks to indicate their territories and common travel routes. These are most commonly produced by scraping the ground with the hind feet before depositing urine or scat, but they also spray urine onto sheltered patches of rock. Snow leopards are crepuscular, being most active at dawn and dusk. They are known for being extremely secretive and well camouflaged. Hunting and diet Snow leopard with Himalayan marmot, Kyrgyzstan Snow leopards are carnivores and actively hunt their prey. Like many cats, they are also opportunistic feeders, eating whatever meat they can find, including carrion and domestic livestock. They can kill animals two to four times their own weight, such as the bharal, Himalayan tahr, markhor, argali, horse, and camel, but will readily take much smaller prey, such as hares and birds. They are capable of killing most animals in their range with the probable exception of the adult male yak. Unusually among cats, snow leopards also eat a significant amount of vegetation, including grass and twigs. Snow leopards will also hunt in pairs successfully, especially mating pairs. A snow leopard eating at Ménagerie du Jardin des plantes, Paris. The diet of the snow leopard varies across its range and with the time of year, and depends on prey availability. In the Himalayas, it preys mostly on bharals ( Himalayan blue sheep ), but in other mountain ranges, such as the Karakoram, Tian Shan, Altai and Tost Mountains of Mongolia, its main prey consists of Siberian ibex and argali, a type of wild sheep, although the latter has become rarer in some parts of the snow leopard 's range. Other large animals eaten when available can include various types of wild goats and sheep ( such as markhors and urials ), other goat - like ruminants such as Himalayan tahr and gorals, plus deer, red panda, wild boars, and langur monkeys. Smaller prey consists of marmots, woolly hares, pikas, various rodents, and birds such as the snow cock and chukar. Considerable predation of domestic livestock occurs, which brings it into direct conflict with humans. However, even in Mongolia, where wild prey have been reduced and interactions with humans are common, domestic livestock ( mainly domestic sheep ) comprises less than 20 % of the diet of species, with wild prey being taken whenever possible. Herders will kill snow leopards to prevent them from taking their animals. The loss of prey animals due to overgrazing by domestic livestock, poaching, and defense of livestock are the major drivers for the decreasing population of the snow leopard. The snow leopard has not been reported to attack humans, and appears to be the least aggressive to humans of all big cats. As a result, they are easily driven away from livestock ; they readily abandon their kills when threatened, and may not even defend themselves when attacked. Snow leopards prefer to ambush prey from above, using broken terrain to conceal their approach. They will actively pursue prey down steep mountainsides, using the momentum of their initial leap to chase animals for up to 300 m ( 980 ft ). They kill with a bite to the neck, and may drag the prey to a safe location before feeding. They consume all edible parts of the carcass, and can survive on a single bharal for two weeks before hunting again. Annual prey needs appears to be 20 -- 30 adult blue sheep. Reproduction and Life cycle Snow leopard cubs at the Cat Survival Trust, Welwyn, UK. The oldest known snow leopard, Shynghyz at Tama Zoo, Tokyo Snow leopards are unusual among large cats in that they have a well - defined birth peak. They usually mate in late winter, marked by a noticeable increase in marking and calling. Snow leopards have a gestation period of 90 -- 100 days, so the cubs are born between April and June. Oestrus typically lasts from five to eight days, and males tend not to seek out another partner after mating, probably because the short mating season does not allow sufficient time. Paired snow leopards mate in the usual felid posture, from 12 to 36 times a day. The mother gives birth in a rocky den or crevice lined with fur shed from her underside. Litter sizes vary from one to five cubs, but the average is 2.2. The cubs are blind and helpless at birth, although already with a thick coat of fur, and weigh from 320 to 567 g ( 11.3 to 20.0 oz ). Their eyes open at around seven days, and the cubs can walk at five weeks and are fully weaned by 10 weeks. Also when they are born, they have full black spots which turn into rosettes as they grow to adolescence. The cubs leave the den when they are around two to four months of age, but remain with their mother until they become independent after around 18 -- 22 months. Once independent, they may disperse over considerable distances, even crossing wide expanses of flat terrain to seek out new hunting grounds. This likely helps reduce the inbreeding that would otherwise be common in their relatively isolated environments. Snow leopards become sexually mature at two to three years, and normally live for 15 -- 18 years, although in captivity they can live for up to 25 years. Conservation efforts Numerous agencies are working to conserve the snow leopard and its threatened mountain ecosystems. These include the Snow Leopard Trust, the Snow Leopard Conservancy, the Snow Leopard Network, the Cat Specialist Group, and the Panthera Corporation. These groups and various national governments from the snow leopard 's range, nonprofits, and donors from around the world worked together at the 10th International Snow Leopard Conference in Beijing. Their focus on research, community programs in snow leopard regions, and education programs are aimed at understanding the cat 's needs, as well as the needs of the villagers and herder communities juxtaposed with the snow leopards ' habitats. Global snow leopard Forum In 2013, government leaders and officials from all 12 countries encompassing the snow leopard 's range ( Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan ) came together at the Global Snow Leopard Forum ( GSLF ) initiated by the President Almazbek Atambayev of the Kyrgyz Republic, and the State Agency on Environmental Protection and Forestry under the government of the Kyrgyz Republic. The meeting was held in Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic, and all countries agreed that the snow leopard and the high mountain habitat it lives in need trans - boundary support to ensure a viable future for snow leopard populations, as well as to safeguard their fragile environment. The event brought together many partners, including NGOs like the Snow Leopard Conservancy, the Snow Leopard Trust, and the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union. Also supporting the initiative were the Snow Leopard Network, the World Bank 's Global Tiger Initiative, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Wild Fund for Nature, the United States Agency for International Development, and Global Environment Facility. Bishkek Declaration At the GSLF meeting, the 12 range countries signed the Bishkek Declaration to `` acknowledge that the snow leopard is an irreplaceable symbol of our nations ' natural and cultural heritage and an indicator of the health and sustainability of mountain ecosystems ; and we recognize that mountain ecosystems inhabited by snow leopards provide essential ecosystem services, including storing and releasing water from the origins of river systems benefitting one - third of the world 's human population ; sustaining the pastoral and agricultural livelihoods of local communities which depend on biodiversity for food, fuel, fodder, and medicine ; and offering inspiration, recreation, and economic opportunities. '' Global snow leopard and ecosystem Protection Program Out of these efforts was formed a cooperative support effort, the Global Snow Leopard and Eco-system Protection Program ( GSLEP ). The GSLEP is a joint initiative of range country governments, international agencies, civil society, and the private sector. Its goal is to secure the long - term survival of the snow leopard in its natural ecosystem. The goal of the GSLEP is for the 12 snow leopard range countries, with support from conservation agencies, NGO 's and others to work together to identify and secure at least 20 healthy populations of snow leopards across the cat 's range by 2020, or `` 20 by 2020 ''. Many of these populations will cross international boundaries. The three criteria that will secure healthy populations of snow leopards are populations that represent at least 100 breeding age snow leopards, contain adequate and secure prey populations and have connectivity to other snow leopard populations. This is an interim goal for the years through to 2020. During the coming years, agreement will be reached on the steps needed to achieve the ultimate goal of ensuring that healthy snow leopard populations remain the icon of the mountains of Asia for generations to come. 2015 designated International year of the snow leopard To help spread the word amongst the people, government authorities, and conservation groups in each range country, 2015 was designated the International Year of the Snow Leopard as part of the GSLEPP 's work. All range - country governments, nongovernmental and inter-governmental organizations, local communities, and various private sector businesses pledged to take the year as an opportunity to further work towards conservation of snow leopards and their high - mountain ecosystems. Population and protected areas Snow leopard at zoo d'Amnéville, France, showing the thickly furred tail Snow leopard The total wild population of the snow leopard was estimated at 4,510 to 7,350 individuals. Many of these estimates are rough and outdated. An estimate from 2016, using data from a number of studies, proposed a population of 4,700 to 8,700 individuals across only 32 percent of the species ' range, suggesting that the total number of snow leopards was larger than previously thought. This estimate has been disputed by other conservationists, including Gustaf Samelius and Som Ale, who have raised concerns about the scientific validity of the data used in that estimate. In 1972, the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) placed the snow leopard on its Red List of Threatened Species as endangered until downgraded to vulnerable in 2017 following the most recent assessment in 2016. There are also approximately 600 snow leopards in zoos around the world. The Richmond Metropolitan Zoo in Virginia, in the United States of America, has snow leopard cubs born in 2016. Range Country Habitat Area ( km ) Estimated Population Afghanistan 50,000 100 -- 200 ? Bhutan 15,000 100 -- 200 ? China 1,100,000 2,000 -- 2,500 India 75,000 200 -- 600 Kazakhstan 50,000 180 -- 200 Kyrgyzstan 105,000 150 -- 500 Mongolia 101,000 500 -- 1,000 Nepal 30,000 300 -- 500 Pakistan 80,000 200 -- 420 Tajikistan 100,000 180 -- 220 Uzbekistan 10,000 20 -- 50 Snow leopard Protected areas : Chitral National Park, in the Khyber - Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Hemis National Park, in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India Khunjerab National Park, Gilgit - Baltistan, Pakistan Nanda Devi National Park, in state of Uttarakhand, India, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site Qomolangma National Nature Preserve, Tibet, China Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. Tumor Feng Nature Reserve, western Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, China. Valley of Flowers National Park, Uttarakhand, India, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site Shey - Phoksundo National Park, Dolpa, Nepal Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Baglung, Nepal Annapurna Conservation Area, Western Nepal Api Nampa Conservation Area, Western Nepal Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, Mongolia Ubsunur Hollow, on the territorial border of Mongolia and the Republic of Tuva, Russia Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, near Anini, India Aksu - Djabagly Nature Reserve, Kazakhstan Sarychat - Ertash State Nature Reserve, Kyrgyzstan Katun Nature Reserve, Russia Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Lahaul Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India Pin Valley National Park, Lahaul Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India Great Himalayan National Park, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, India Sacred Himalayan Landscape, Nepal, India, Bhutan Much progress has been made in securing the survival of the snow leopard, with them being successfully bred in captivity. The animals usually give birth to two to three cubs in a litter, but can give birth to up to seven in some cases. A `` surprisingly healthy '' population of snow leopards has been found living at 16 locations in the isolated Wakhan Corridor in northeastern Afghanistan, giving rise to hopes for survival of snow leopards in that region. Relationships with humans Attacks on humans and livestock Snow leopard attacks on humans are rare ; only two instances are known. On July 12, 1940, in Maloalmaatinsk gorge near Almaty, a rabid snow leopard attacked two men during the day and inflicted serious injuries on both. In the second case, not far from Almaty, an old, toothless, emaciated snow leopard unsuccessfully attacked a passerby in winter ; it was captured and carried to a local village. There are no other records of any snow leopard attacking a human being. A 2008 Natural World episode, `` Snow Leopard -- Beyond the Myth '', interviewed a couple with a goat farm in Pakistan ; the woman was bowled over by a snow leopard escaping an enclosure where it had been feeding on the livestock, but she was not attacked by the cat, despite fainting and being helpless. The film crew went to some lengths to demonstrate that the cat was primarily hunting wild prey and was often ranging far outside the area, as they hoped to prevent local farmers from shooting it. Nevertheless, they also found evidence of other sightings of the cats around nearby human settlements, and of repeated attacks on livestock ( some of them unsuccessful ). Snow leopards attacking livestock has also been a subject of conservation journal papers. Emblematic use Ounce Snow leopards have symbolic meaning for Turkic peoples of Central Asia, where the animal is known as irbis or bars, so it is widely used in heraldry and as an emblem. The snow leopard in heraldry is sometimes known in English as the ounce. The cat has long been used as a political symbol, the Aq Bars ( ' White Leopard ' ), by Tatars, Kazakhs, and Bulgars, among others. A snow leopard is found on the official seal of the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan, and the former 10,000 Kazakhstani tenge banknote also featured one on the reverse. A mythical winged Aq Bars is found in the national coat of arms of Tatarstan, the seal of the city of Samarqand, Uzbekistan, and ( also with a crown ) the old coat of arms of the Kazakh capital, Astana. In Kyrgyzstan, it has been used in highly stylized form in the modern emblem of the capital, Bishkek, and the same art has been integrated into the badge of the Kyrgyzstan Girl Scouts Association. A crowned snow leopard features in the arms of Shushensky District, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia. The Snow Leopard award, given to Soviet mountaineers who scaled all five of the Soviet Union 's 7,000 - meter peaks, is named after the animal, but does not depict one. The cat is the state animal of Himachal Pradesh, a north Indian state in the western Himalayas. The animal has also been declared the `` National Predator '' of Pakistan. Symbol of Almaty, Kazakhstan Snow leopard on the reverse of the old 10,000 - Kazakhstani tenge banknote The coat of arms of Tatarstan Seal of Samarqand, Uzbekistan Old coat of arms of Astana, Kazakhstan Symbol of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Membership badge of the Girl Scout Association of Kyrgyzstan Coat of arms of Shushensky District, Krasnoyarsk Krai In the media Documentary Documentary footage of the snow leopard is scarce. While such coverage would not be remarkable with regard to common species, wildlife video of the snow leopard is difficult to obtain due to the animal 's rarity and the human inaccessibility of much of its natural habitat. The BBC One TV series Planet Earth had a segment on snow leopards. The series took some of the first video of snow leopards in the wild, and also featured a snow leopard hunting a markhor. The episode Mountains of Planet Earth II, aired in November 2016, featured the rather violent mating fights of snow leopards, as well as a snow leopard 's chuffing and wailing. Nisar Malik, a Pakistani journalist, and Mark Smith, a cameraman who had worked on the Planet Earth segment, spent a further 18 months filming snow leopards in the Hindu Kush for the BBC Two series Natural World episode `` Snow Leopard -- Beyond the Myth ''. The cat has been featured in segments of other episodes of the same series. The PBS / WNET series Nature focused on the species in its episode `` Silent Roar : Searching for the Snow Leopard ''. A snow leopard named Dawa along with her cubs is one of the focal points of the 2017 Disneynature film Born in China. Non-fiction In Peter Matthiessen 's 1978 travelogue The Snow Leopard, he recounts his two - month search with naturalist George Schaller for snow leopards in Nepal. Fictional In Philip Pullman 's 1995 -- 2000 fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials, Lord Asriel 's dæmon is a snow leopard named Stelmaria. Tai Lung, the main antagonist of the 2008 film Kung Fu Panda, is an anthropomorphized snow leopard. In the 2013 film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, photojournalist Sean O'Connell ( played by Sean Penn ) is shown photographing snow leopards in Afghanistan. References Jump up ^ McCarthy, T., Mallon, D., Jackson, R., Zahler, P. & McCarthy, K. ( 2016 ). `` Panthera uncia ''. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2017.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 14 September 2017. CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list ( link ) ^ Jump up to : Wozencraft, W.C. ( 2005 ). `` Order Carnivora ''. In Wilson, D.E. ; Reeder, D.M. 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Journal of Heredity. 44 : 1 -- 36. doi : 10.1093 / jhered / esx044. Jump up ^ Boitani, Luigi ( 1984 ) Simon & Schuster 's Guide to Mammals. Simon & Schuster / Touchstone Books, ISBN 978 - 0 - 671 - 42805 - 1 Jump up ^ Hemmer, Helmut ( 1972 ). `` Uncia uncia '' ( PDF ). Mammalian Species. 20 ( 20 ) : 1 -- 5. JSTOR 3503882. doi : 10.2307 / 3503882. Jump up ^ `` Snow Leopard -- National Geographic ''. 10 September 2010. ^ Jump up to : Sunquist, Mel ; Sunquist, Fiona ( 2002 ). Wild cats of the World. Chicago : University of Chicago Press. pp. 377 -- 394. ISBN 0 - 226 - 77999 - 8. ^ Jump up to : `` Snow Leopard Fact Sheet '' ( PDF ). snowleopard.org. 2008. Retrieved 2008 - 07 - 03. Jump up ^ Physical Features. SnowLeopard.org ^ Jump up to : Chadwick, Douglas H. ( 2008 ). `` Out of the Shadows ''. National Geographic. Retrieved 2010 - 01 - 29. ^ Jump up to : Nowak, Ronald M. ( 1999 ). Walker 's Mammals of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0 - 8018 - 5789 - 9. Jump up ^ Weissengruber, G.E. ; Forstenpointner, G. ; Peters, G. ; Kübber - Heiss, A. ; Fitch, W.T. ( September 2002 ). `` Hyoid apparatus and pharynx in the lion ( Panthera leo ), jaguar ( Panthera onca ), tiger ( Panthera tigris ), cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus ) and domestic cat ( Felis silvestris f. catus ) ''. Journal of Anatomy. 201 ( 3 ) : 195 -- 209. PMC 1570911. PMID 12363272. doi : 10.1046 / j. 1469 - 7580.2002. 00088. x. Jump up ^ Geptner, V.G. ; Sludskii, A.A. ( 1992 ). Mammals of the Soviet Union : Carnivora ( Hyaenas and Cats ). Brill. ISBN 978 - 90 - 04 - 08876 - 4. Jump up ^ Ebrahim, Zofeen ( May 5, 2015 ). `` Climate change stalks the snow leopard ''. scidev.net. Retrieved May 21, 2015. Jump up ^ `` One Snow Leopard Needs a Protected Range Bigger Than Aruba ''. 21 September 2016. ^ Jump up to : Johansson, Ö. ; McCarthy, T. ; Samelius, G. ; Andrén, H. ; Tumursukh, L : Mishra, C., Gustaf ; Andrén, Henrik ; Tumursukh, Lkhagvasumberel ; Mishra, Charudutt ( 2015 ). `` Snow leopard predation in a livestock dominated landscape in Mongolia '' ( PDF ). Biological Conservation. 184 : 251 -- 258. doi : 10.1016 / j. biocon. 2015.02. 003. Retrieved 25 March 2015. CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list ( link ) Jump up ^ Macri, A.M. & E. Patterson - Kane ( 2011 ). `` Behavioural analysis of solitary versus socially housed snow leopards ( Panthera uncia ), with the provision of simulated social contact ''. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 130 ( 3 -- 4 ) : 115 -- 123. doi : 10.1016 / j. applanim. 2010.12. 005. ^ Jump up to : Jackson, Rodney ; Hunter, Don O. ( 1996 ). `` Snow Leopard Survey and Conservation Handbook Part III '' ( PDF ). Snow Leopard Survey and Conservation Handbook. Seattle, Washington, & Fort Collins Science Center, Colorado, US : International Snow Leopard Trust & U.S. Geological Survey. p. 66. Retrieved 2009 - 03 - 14. ^ Jump up to : Shehzad, Wasim ; McCarthy, Thomas Michael ; Pompanon, Francois ; Purevjav, Lkhagvajav ; Coissac, Eric ; Riaz, Tiayyba ; Taberlet, Pierre ( 2012 ). Desalle, Robert, ed. `` Prey Preference of Snow Leopard ( Panthera uncia ) in South Gobi, Mongolia ''. PLoS ONE. 7 ( 2 ) : e32104. Bibcode : 2012PLoSO... 732104S. PMC 3290533. PMID 22393381. doi : 10.1371 / journal. pone. 0032104. Jump up ^ The oldest snow leopard in the world, Article about Shynghyz in Tama Zoo, Tokyo Jump up ^ Theile, Stephanie ( 2003 ) `` Fading footprints ; the killing and trade of snow leopards ''. TRAFFIC International, ISBN 1 - 85850 - 201 - 2 Jump up ^ `` Cats in the Clouds '', Australian Broadcasting Corporation ( 2009 - 05 - 06 ). Retrieved 27 June 2009. Jump up ^ `` Bishkek Declaration '', Global Snow Leopard Forum October 2013. Retrieved 2015 - 02 - 27. Jump up ^ Securing at least 20 healthy populations of snow leopards across the cat 's range by 2020, Global Snow Leopard and Eco-System protection Program October 2013. Retrieved 2015 - 04 - 15. Jump up ^ `` International Year of the Snow Leopard '', Saving Snow Leopards Report ( 2015 - 02 - 06 ). Retrieved 2015 - 02 - 27. ^ Jump up to : Gertz, Emily J. ( 12 July 2016 ). `` A New Snow Leopard Population Estimate Has Scientists on Edge ''. Jump up ^ `` Statement of Concern on Snow Leopard Population Estimates -- Snow Leopard Trust ''. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 25. Jump up ^ Curran, Colleen ( September 2, 2016 ). `` Snow leopard cubs go on exhibit at the Metro Richmond Zoo ''. Richmond Times - Dispatch. Retrieved 2 September 2016. Jump up ^ UNESCO World Heritage Centre Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks. Retrieved 27 November 2006. Jump up ^ `` Qomolangma National Nature Preserve ''. FutureGenerations China. Retrieved March 2, 2015. Jump up ^ Jackson, Rodney People - Wildlife Conflict Management in the Qomolangma Nature Preserve, Tibet, pp. 40 -- 46 in Tibet 's Biodiversity : Conservation and Management. Proceedings of a Conference, August 30 -- September 4, 1998. Edited by Wu Ning, D. Miller, Lhu Zhu and J. Springer. Tibet Forestry Department and World Wide Fund for Nature. China Forestry Publishing House Jump up ^ UNESCO World Heritage Center. Sagarmatha National Park : Brief Description. Retrieved 27 November 2006. Jump up ^ Ming, Ma ; Snow Leopard Network ( 2005 ). Camera Trapping of Snow Leopards in the Muzat Valley. Retrieved 27 November 2006. Jump up ^ Farmer, Ben ( 2011 - 07 - 15 ). `` Snow Leopards found in Afghanistan. '' Archived July 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. The Telegraph. ^ Jump up to : Heptner, V.G. ; and Sluskii, A.A. ( 1992 ) Mammals of the Soviet Union. Vol 2, Part 2. ( Carnivores : Hyaenas and Cats ) New Delhi : Amerind Publishing. p. 308. Jump up ^ Inskip, C. ; Zimmermann, A. ( 2009 ). `` Human - felid conflict : A review of patterns and priorities worldwide ''. Oryx. 43 ( 1 ) : 18 -- 34. doi : 10.1017 / S003060530899030X. Jump up ^ Nowell, K. ; Jackson, P., eds. ( 1996 ). Wild cats : Status survey and conservation action plan. Gland, Switzerland : International Union for Conservation of Nature. pp. 193 -- 195. ISBN 9782831700458. Retrieved 21 March 2013. ^ Jump up to : Snow Leopard -- Beyond the Myth. Natural World. 4 January 2008. access - date = requires url = ( help ) Jump up ^ `` The Official Web Gateway to Pakistan ''. www.pakistan.gov.pk. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 23. Jump up ^ Press Office -- Planet Earth firsts. BBC ( 2006 - 02 - 01 ). Retrieved 2012 - 08 - 23. Jump up ^ BBC Two -- Natural World, 2007 -- 2008, Snow Leopard - Beyond the Myth. BBC.co.uk ( 2008 - 09 - 23 ). Retrieved 2012 - 08 - 23. Further reading Jackson, Rodney ; Hillard, Darla ( June 1986 ). `` Tracking the Elusive Snow Leopard ''. National Geographic. Vol. 169 no. 6. pp. 793 -- 809. ISSN 0027 - 9358. OCLC 643483454. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to : Panthera uncia ( category ) Wikispecies has information related to : Panthera uncia Snow Leopard Network Snow Leopard Trust Saving Snow Leopards Report Snow Leopard Conservancy Panthera Snow Leopard Program WWF Snow Leopard Program Global Snow Leopard & Eco-system Protection Program IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group species portrait of the snow leopard National Geographic snow leopard winter photography gallery Wildscreen Arkive images and video of the Snow leopard PBS Nature : `` Silent Roar : Searching for the Snow Leopard '' Video footage from the BBC including a snow leopard hunt World Wildlife Federation snow leopard species profile Wildlife Times editorial on snow leopard conservation Paradise Wildlife Park article about snow leopards evolving alongside tigers, not leopards Big cats on the Indian subcontinent Extant in the wild Asiatic lion ( P. leo persica ) Bengal tiger ( P. tigris tigris ) Clouded leopard ( N. nebulosa ) Indian leopard ( P. pardus fusca ) Snow leopard ( P. uncia ) Black panther ( Black leopard ) Extinct in the wild White Bengal tiger Extinct in the Indian subcontinent Asiatic cheetah ( A. jubatus venaticus ) Under reintroduction Asiatic lion ( P. leo persica ) South African cheetah ( A. jubatus jubatus ) Extant Carnivora species Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Mammalia Infraclass : Eutheria Superorder : Laurasiatheria Suborder Feliformia Nandiniidae Nandinia African palm civet ( N. binotata ) Herpestidae ( Mongooses ) Atilax Marsh mongoose ( A. paludinosus ) Bdeogale Bushy - tailed mongoose ( B. crassicauda ) Jackson 's mongoose ( B. jacksoni ) Black - footed mongoose ( B. nigripes ) Crossarchus Alexander 's kusimanse ( C. alexandri ) Angolan kusimanse ( C. ansorgei ) Common kusimanse ( C. obscurus ) Flat - headed kusimanse ( C. platycephalus ) Cynictis Yellow mongoose ( C. penicillata ) Dologale Pousargues 's mongoose ( D. dybowskii ) Galerella Angolan slender mongoose ( G. flavescens ) Black mongoose ( G. nigrata ) Somalian slender mongoose ( G. ochracea ) Cape gray mongoose ( G. pulverulenta ) Slender mongoose ( G. sanguinea ) Helogale Ethiopian dwarf mongoose ( H. hirtula ) Common dwarf mongoose ( H. parvula ) Herpestes Short - tailed mongoose ( H. brachyurus ) Indian gray mongoose ( H. edwardsii ) Indian brown mongoose ( H. fuscus ) Egyptian mongoose ( H. ichneumon ) Small Asian mongoose ( H. javanicus ) Long - nosed mongoose ( H. naso ) Collared mongoose ( H. semitorquatus ) Ruddy mongoose ( H. smithii ) Crab - eating mongoose ( H. urva ) Stripe - necked mongoose ( H. vitticollis ) Ichneumia White - tailed mongoose ( I. albicauda ) Liberiictus Liberian mongoose ( L. kuhni ) Mungos Gambian mongoose ( M. gambianus ) Banded mongoose ( M. mungo ) Paracynictis Selous ' mongoose ( P. selousi ) Rhynchogale Meller 's mongoose ( R. melleri ) Suricata Meerkat ( S. suricatta ) Hyaenidae ( Hyenas ) Crocuta Spotted hyena ( C. crocuta ) Hyaena Brown hyena ( H. brunnea ) Striped hyena ( H. hyaena ) Proteles Aardwolf ( P. cristatus ) Felidae Large family listed below Viverridae Large family listed below Eupleridae Small family listed below Family Felidae Felinae Acinonyx Cheetah ( A. jubatus ) Caracal Caracal ( C. caracal ) African golden cat ( C. aurata ) Catopuma Bay cat ( C. badia ) Asian golden cat ( C. temminckii ) Felis Chinese mountain cat ( F. bieti ) Domestic cat ( F. catus ) Jungle cat ( F. chaus ) Sand cat ( F. margarita ) Black - footed cat ( F. nigripes ) Wildcat ( F. silvestris ) Leopardus Pantanal cat ( L. braccatus ) Colocolo ( L. colocolo ) Geoffroy 's cat ( L. geoffroyi ) Kodkod ( L. guigna ) Southern tigrina ( L. guttulus ) Andean mountain cat ( L. jacobita ) Pampas cat ( L. pajeros ) Ocelot ( L. pardalis ) Oncilla ( L. tigrinus ) Margay ( L. wiedii ) Leptailurus Serval ( L. serval ) Lynx Canadian lynx ( L. canadensis ) Eurasian lynx ( L. lynx ) Iberian lynx ( L. pardinus ) Bobcat ( L. rufus ) Otocolobus Pallas 's cat ( O. manul ) Pardofelis Marbled cat ( P. marmorata ) Prionailurus Leopard cat ( P. bengalensis ) Flat - headed cat ( P. planiceps ) Rusty - spotted cat ( P. rubiginosus ) Fishing cat ( P. viverrinus ) Puma Cougar ( P. concolor ) Jaguarundi ( P. yagouaroundi ) Pantherinae Panthera Lion ( P. leo ) Jaguar ( P. onca ) Leopard ( P. pardus ) Tiger ( P. tigris ) Snow leopard ( P. uncia ) Neofelis Clouded leopard ( N. nebulosa ) Sunda clouded leopard ( N. diardi ) Family Viverridae ( includes Civets ) Paradoxurinae Arctictis Binturong ( A. binturong ) Arctogalidia Small - toothed palm civet ( A. trivirgata ) Macrogalidia Sulawesi palm civet ( M. musschenbroekii ) Paguma Masked palm civet ( P. larvata ) Paradoxurus Golden wet - zone palm civet ( P. aureus ) Asian palm civet ( P. hermaphroditus ) Jerdon 's palm civet ( P. jerdoni ) Golden palm civet ( P. zeylonensis ) Hemigalinae Chrotogale Owston 's palm civet ( C. owstoni ) Cynogale Otter civet ( C. bennettii ) Diplogale Hose 's palm civet ( D. hosei ) Hemigalus Banded palm civet ( H. derbyanus ) Prionodontinae ( Asiatic linsangs ) Prionodon Banded linsang ( P. linsang ) Spotted linsang ( P. pardicolor ) Viverrinae Civettictis African civet ( C. civetta ) Genetta ( Genets ) Abyssinian genet ( G. abyssinica ) Angolan genet ( G. angolensis ) Bourlon 's genet ( G. bourloni ) Crested servaline genet ( G. cristata ) Common genet ( G. genetta ) Johnston 's genet ( G. johnstoni ) Rusty - spotted genet ( G. maculata ) Pardine genet ( G. pardina ) Aquatic genet ( G. piscivora ) King genet ( G. poensis ) Servaline genet ( G. servalina ) Haussa genet ( G. thierryi ) Cape genet ( G. tigrina ) Giant forest genet ( G. victoriae ) Poiana African linsang ( P. richardsonii ) Leighton 's linsang ( P. leightoni ) Viverra Malabar large - spotted civet ( V. civettina ) Large - spotted civet ( V. megaspila ) Malayan civet ( V. tangalunga ) Large Indian civet ( V. zibetha ) Viverricula Small Indian civet ( V. indica ) Family Eupleridae Euplerinae Cryptoprocta Fossa ( C. ferox ) Eupleres Eastern falanouc ( E. goudotii ) Western falanouc ( E. major ) Fossa Malagasy civet ( F. fossana ) Galidiinae Galidia Ring - tailed mongoose ( G. elegans ) Galidictis Broad - striped Malagasy mongoose ( G. fasciata ) Grandidier 's mongoose ( G. grandidieri ) Mungotictis Narrow - striped mongoose ( M. decemlineata ) Salanoia Brown - tailed mongoose ( S. concolor ) Durrell 's vontsira ( S. durrelli ) Suborder Caniformia ( cont. below ) Ursidae ( Bears ) Ailuropoda Giant panda ( A. melanoleuca ) Helarctos Sun bear ( H. malayanus ) Melursus Sloth bear ( M. ursinus ) Tremarctos Spectacled bear ( T. ornatus ) Ursus American black bear ( U. americanus ) Brown bear ( U. arctos ) Polar bear ( U. maritimus ) Asian black bear ( U. thibetanus ) Mephitidae ( Skunks ) Conepatus ( Hog - nosed skunks ) Molina 's hog - nosed skunk ( C. chinga ) Humboldt 's hog - nosed skunk ( C. humboldtii ) American hog - nosed skunk ( C. leuconotus ) Striped hog - nosed skunk ( C. semistriatus ) Mephitis Hooded skunk ( M. macroura ) Striped skunk ( M. mephitis ) Mydaus Sunda stink badger ( M. javanensis ) Palawan stink badger ( M. marchei ) Spilogale ( Spotted skunks ) Southern spotted skunk ( S. angustifrons ) Western spotted skunk ( S. gracilis ) Eastern spotted skunk ( S. putorius ) Pygmy spotted skunk ( S. pygmaea ) Procyonidae Bassaricyon ( Olingos ) Eastern lowland olingo ( B. alleni ) Northern olingo ( B. gabbii ) Western lowland olingo ( B. medius ) Olinguito ( B. neblina ) Bassariscus Ring - tailed cat ( B. astutus ) Cacomistle ( B. sumichrasti ) Nasua ( Coatis inclusive ) White - nosed coati ( N. narica ) South American coati ( N. nasua ) Nasuella ( Coatis inclusive ) Western mountain coati ( N. olivacea ) Eastern mountain coati ( N. meridensis ) Potos Kinkajou ( P. flavus ) Procyon Crab - eating raccoon ( P. cancrivorus ) Raccoon ( P. lotor ) Cozumel raccoon ( P. pygmaeus ) Ailuridae Ailurus Red panda ( A. fulgens ) Suborder Caniformia ( cont. above ) Otariidae ( Eared seals ) ( includes fur seals and sea lions ) ( Pinniped inclusive ) Arctocephalus South American fur seal ( A. australis ) Australasian fur seal ( A. forsteri ) Galápagos fur seal ( A. galapagoensis ) Antarctic fur seal ( A. gazella ) Juan Fernández fur seal ( A. philippii ) Brown fur seal ( A. pusillus ) Guadalupe fur seal ( A. townsendi ) Subantarctic fur seal ( A. tropicalis ) Callorhinus Northern fur seal ( C. ursinus ) Eumetopias Steller sea lion ( E. jubatus ) Neophoca Australian sea lion ( N. cinerea ) Otaria South American sea lion ( O. flavescens ) Phocarctos New Zealand sea lion ( P. hookeri ) Zalophus California sea lion ( Z. californianus ) Galápagos sea lion ( Z. wollebaeki ) Odobenidae ( Pinniped inclusive ) Odobenus Walrus ( O. rosmarus ) Phocidae ( Earless seals ) ( Pinniped inclusive ) Cystophora Hooded seal ( C. cristata ) Erignathus Bearded seal ( E. barbatus ) Halichoerus Gray seal ( H. grypus ) Histriophoca Ribbon seal ( H. fasciata ) Hydrurga Leopard seal ( H. leptonyx ) Leptonychotes Weddell seal ( L. weddellii ) Lobodon Crabeater seal ( L. carcinophagus ) Mirounga ( Elephant seals ) Northern elephant seal ( M. angustirostris ) Southern elephant seal ( M. leonina ) Monachus Mediterranean monk seal ( M. monachus ) Hawaiian monk seal ( M. schauinslandi ) Ommatophoca Ross seal ( O. rossi ) Pagophilus Harp seal ( P. groenlandicus ) Phoca Spotted seal ( P. largha ) Harbor seal ( P. vitulina ) Pusa Caspian seal ( P. caspica ) Ringed seal ( P. hispida ) Baikal seal ( P. sibirica ) Canidae Large family listed below Mustelidae Large family listed below Family Canidae ( includes dogs ) Atelocynus Short - eared dog ( A. microtis ) Canis Side - striped jackal ( C. adustus ) African golden wolf ( C. anthus ) Golden jackal ( C. aureus ) Coyote ( C. latrans ) Gray wolf ( C. lupus ) Black - backed jackal ( C. mesomelas ) Red wolf ( C. rufus ) Ethiopian wolf ( C. simensis ) Cerdocyon Crab - eating fox ( C. thous ) Chrysocyon Maned wolf ( C. brachyurus ) Cuon Dhole ( C. alpinus ) Lycalopex Culpeo ( L. culpaeus ) Darwin 's fox ( L. fulvipes ) South American gray fox ( L. griseus ) Pampas fox ( L. gymnocercus ) Sechuran fox ( L. sechurae ) Hoary fox ( L. vetulus ) Lycaon African wild dog ( L. pictus ) Nyctereutes Raccoon dog ( N. procyonoides ) Otocyon Bat - eared fox ( O. megalotis ) Speothos Bush dog ( S. venaticus ) Urocyon Gray fox ( U. cinereoargenteus ) Island fox ( U. littoralis ) Vulpes ( Foxes ) Bengal fox ( V. bengalensis ) Blanford 's fox ( V. cana ) Cape fox ( V. chama ) Corsac fox ( V. corsac ) Tibetan sand fox ( V. ferrilata ) Arctic fox ( V. lagopus ) Kit fox ( V. macrotis ) Pale fox ( V. pallida ) Rüppell 's fox ( V. rueppelli ) Swift fox ( V. velox ) Red fox ( V. vulpes ) Fennec fox ( V. zerda ) Family Mustelidae Lutrinae ( Otters ) Aonyx African clawless otter ( A. capensis ) Oriental small - clawed otter ( A. cinerea ) Enhydra Sea otter ( E. lutris ) Hydrictis Spotted - necked otter ( H. maculicollis ) Lontra North American river otter ( L. canadensis ) Marine otter ( L. felina ) Neotropical otter ( L. longicaudis ) Southern river otter ( L. provocax ) Lutra Eurasian otter ( L. lutra ) Hairy - nosed otter ( L. sumatrana ) Lutrogale Smooth - coated otter ( L. perspicillata ) Pteronura Giant otter ( P. brasiliensis ) Mustelinae ( including badgers ) Arctonyx Hog badger ( A. collaris ) Eira Tayra ( E. barbara ) Galictis Lesser grison ( G. cuja ) Greater grison ( G. vittata ) Gulo Wolverine ( G. gulo ) Ictonyx Saharan striped polecat ( I. libyca ) Striped polecat ( I. striatus ) Lyncodon Patagonian weasel ( L. patagonicus ) Martes ( Martens ) American marten ( M. americana ) Yellow - throated marten ( M. flavigula ) Beech marten ( M. foina ) Nilgiri marten ( M. gwatkinsii ) European pine marten ( M. martes ) Japanese marten ( M. melampus ) Fisher ( M. pennanti ) Sable ( M. zibellina ) Meles Japanese badger ( M. anakuma ) Asian badger ( M. leucurus ) European badger ( M. meles ) Mellivora Honey badger ( M. capensis ) Melogale ( Ferret - badgers ) Bornean ferret - badger ( M. everetti ) Chinese ferret - badger ( M. moschata ) Javan ferret - badger ( M. orientalis ) Burmese ferret - badger ( M. personata ) Mustela ( Weasels and Ferrets ) Amazon weasel ( M. africana ) Mountain weasel ( M. altaica ) Stoat ( M. erminea ) Steppe polecat ( M. eversmannii ) Colombian weasel ( M. felipei ) Long - tailed weasel ( M. frenata ) Japanese weasel ( M. itatsi ) Yellow - bellied weasel ( M. kathiah ) European mink ( M. lutreola ) Indonesian mountain weasel ( M. lutreolina ) Black - footed ferret ( M. nigripes ) Least weasel ( M. nivalis ) Malayan weasel ( M. nudipes ) European polecat ( M. putorius ) Siberian weasel ( M. sibirica ) Back - striped weasel ( M. strigidorsa ) Egyptian weasel ( M. subpalmata ) Neovison ( Minks ) American mink ( N. vison ) Poecilogale African striped weasel ( P. albinucha ) Taxidea American badger ( T. taxus ) Vormela Marbled polecat ( V. peregusna ) Taxon identifiers Wd : Q30197 EoL : 328676 Fossilworks : 224097 GBIF : 5787213 ITIS : 933420 IUCN : 22732 NCBI : 29064 GND : 4179849 - 1 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Snow_leopard&oldid=800590511 '' Categories : IUCN Red List vulnerable species Panthera Felids of Asia Fauna of Central Asia Carnivorans of Asia Felids of India Mammals of Bhutan Mammals of China Mammals of Mongolia Mammals of Nepal Mammals of Pakistan Fauna of the Himalayas Fauna of Jammu and Kashmir Fauna of Tibet National symbols of Pakistan Vulnerable animals Vulnerable biota of Asia Mammals described in 1775 Hidden categories : CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list Webarchive template wayback links Pages using citations with accessdate and no URL Wikipedia pages semi-protected against vandalism Articles with ' species ' microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from March 2014 Articles with unsourced statements from August 2011 Articles with unsourced statements from May 2017 Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Talk View source Contents About Wikipedia Wikimedia Commons Wikispecies Afrikaans Avañe'ẽ Авар Azərbaycanca تۆرکجه বাংলা Bân - 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Question: when was the snow leopard listed as endangered
Answer: 1972