4th December - World Wildlife Conservation Day

Snow Leopard at Marwell Wildlife, Hampshire

The snow leopard (Panthera uncia syn. Uncia uncia) is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. It is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because the size of the global population is estimated at as few as 4,000 adults, of which only 2,500 individuals may reproduce in the wild. The animals are gradually being pushed out of their natural habitat due to destruction, livestock grazing, their prey being hunted by humans and other conflicts with people. Some have even fallen victim to landmines in northern Afghanistan.

Marwell Wildlife are successful members of the European Breeding Programme for the species.