This obscure and rare cat inhabits the rugged and mountainous landscapes of central Asia and the Himalayas. These carnivores feed on regional wild sheep and small mammals for several days. It hunts at dawn and dusk and sometimes preys upon livestock. Its thick woolly white (sometimes yellow-gray) fur with rosettes and spots protects it from the bitter cold of the mountains. Endangered, snow leopards sexually mature around 2-3 years of age.
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