- Snow leopards are shy, elusive cats known for their solitary nature.
- These cats are most active at dawn and dusk, which is called a “crepuscular activity pattern” by scientists.
- Snow leopards regularly patrol home ranges that can cover hundreds of square kilometers.
- Sometimes a male and female might be seen together during mating season, or we might see a mother with her young cubs.
- Once the cubs are about 2 years old, they begin to disperse from their mother and set out on their own.
- In order to communicate snow leopards leave markings on the landscape that other cats will find. They scrape the ground with their hind legs and spray urine against rocks to mark their territory or locate mates.
- Snow leopards make sounds similar to those made by other large cats, including a purr, mew, hiss, growl, moan, and yowl. However, snow leopards cannot roar due to the physiology of their throat, and instead make a non-aggressive puffing sound called a ‘chuff’.
- Snow leopards are not aggressive towards humans. There has never been a verified snow leopard attack on a human being. Even if disturbed while feeding, a snow leopard is more likely to run away than try to defend the site.