Snow leopards are widely, but sparsely, distributed throughout the mountains of Central Asia.
Although these impressive creatures were once numerous, it is now estimated that there are only 2,000 living in this region. The overall destruction of the snow leopards' habitat, as well as illegal hunting and trapping, have eliminated this animal from many areas of its former range. In addition, as humans and their domestic livestock move higher up the mountain slopes, plants become overgrazed. This means less food for the snow leopards' traditional prey and, in turn, less prey for the leopards themselves. Snow leopards are classified as an endangered species and are legally protected throughout most of their range, and commercial trade in snow leopard skins is banned.