Status
China is predicted to govern 60% of the global snow leopard range and harbor the largest population among all the countries. This poses a considerable challenge to the country-level population assessment. However, recent studies have made notable progress in providing robust estimates based on range-wide and representative data. This is represented by the 2025 report of population size at 755~1341 in Sanjiangyuan. The research community has acknowledged the importance of reliable evaluation, and efforts are underway to promote this approach, as seen in initiatives in Qilianshan National Park and Sichuan Province.
Ecology
Middle and large sized ungulates constitute the most of snow leopard diet, especially blue sheep and ibex, as well as other ungulates that inhabit steep terrain, such as argali and tahr. The influence of prey abundance on snow leopard distribution and density has been reported in several studies.
A preliminary study in Qilianshan National Park estimate the home range size of an adult male to be 47 km2, which is substantially smaller than the figures reported in other countries. The understanding of the territoriality of snow leopards in China may be enhanced through further research involving GPS telemetry.
Region
Snow leopards are found in 12 countries in Asia, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Habitat
Snow leopards inhabit rocky mountains, but depending on the region, they also live in shrubland, grassland, and deserts. The preference of this species for rugged terrain has been reported in most studies involving habitat selection. In addition, the abundance of wild ungulates greatly affects their habitat use.
Conservation Approach
WCS now focuses on cooperating with other organizations to build capacities related to conservation, such as species identification and quick response, for the government, rangers, and local communities.
Threats
Habitat loss, human disturbance (e.g., overgrazing and mining), and climate change are suggested to be the threats to snow leopards in China.