Saving the snow leopard is about more than just saving a single species  

The snow leopard is considered an umbrella species. What does this mean? Well picture a snow leopard holding a giant umbrella and then picture all the different species that are found in the same habitat standing underneath the umbrella too. Scientists often use this term and analogy to describe the fact that as you work to protect a large predator like the snow leopard, you are often preserving its habitat and the many species that reside in the same areas. It is much more than saving a single species, and at the Snow Leopard Trust we are working to preserve habitat, prey species, and communities as we work to protect this umbrella species.

What is the snow leopard’s habitat?

Snow leopards are found in 12 Asian countries, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. Their habitat is spread across high mountain ranges and covers 2 million square kilometers, about the size of Greenland or Mexico. China contains as much as 60% of all snow leopard habitat.  

Umbrella species occur within (or migrate across) large areas or entire ecosystems. The umbrella of their home ranges covers the habitats of other wildlife species. Conserving sufficiently large areas to protect umbrella species can often lead to the protection of other animals living in the entire ecosystem. Because snow leopards cover such a vast range, when the Snow Leopard Trust works to protect the snow leopard, we are actually working to protect the landscapes and many species that live in these mountain habitats.

What species do they share their habitats with?

This varies tremendously across its range, but two of the most important large species for snow leopard survival are the blue sheep, or bharal (Pseudois nayaur), of the Himalayas and Tibet, and the Asiatic ibex (Capra ibex), a wild goat found throughout the major mountain ranges of central Asia. Snow leopards rely on many other animals, including musk deer, wild pigs, gazelles, markhor, marmots, pikas, hares, rabbits, pheasant, other small rodents, and game birds like the Tibetan snowcock and chukor partridge. Snow leopards need grass, twigs and other vegetation, as it has been recorded that in some areas snow leopards consume notable amounts of plant material, particularly during the mating season. The cats may do this to obtain specific nutrients that they need at that time of year.

With the variety of species that snow leopards rely on for survival, it is important that we realize that saving the snow leopard means protecting entire ecosystems with viable plant and animal populations that can support this key species. Find out how you can help us save this umbrella species and all the flora and fauna underneath!