The snow leopard (Panthera uncia ) is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. It is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because as of 2003, the size of the global population was estimated at around 5000 adults, of which fewer than 2,500 individuals may reproduce in the wild. An illustration depicting the snow leopard might hopefully draw attention to the problem of the Panthera uncia's endangerment. The painting is done in vivid yet precise strokes, inspired from the snow leopard's way of life. Snow leopards inhabit alpine and subalpine zones at elevations around 4000 m, their movement has to be fast and precise to survive the hardships of such terrain.