The snow leopard (Unica unica) is a large cat of the order Carnivora and the family Felidae. Native to Asia, snow leopards like to live high up in the mountains. There are less than eight thousand snow leopards living in the wild. Snow leopards are an endangered and protected species.

The average snow leopard weighs between 60 and 120 pounds and has a body length between 30 and 50 inches. They have white and gray fur with dark gray spots and striping. Because they live high up in the cold mountains, the snow leopards have thick fur and thick bodies to help them keep warm. They have wide set paws that act as snow shoes and help to distribute their weight. They use their tales to help them with balance and to cover their faces and keep warm when sleeping.

Snow leopards are solitary, secretive animals that are hidden by the snow and sleep most of the day. They hunt at twilight and cover large areas when hunting. The snow leopard, unlike most big cats, is incapable of roaring. Rather, they hiss and growl to ward off would be attackers.

Preferring a diet of deer, wild boars and monkeys, the snow leopard will attack and kill both domestic animals on farms and the humans who try to prevent such attacks.