A celebration of snow leopards
Posted 20 Oct 2025 in Highland Wildlife Park
Snow leopards are a fascinating species, loved by wildlife enthusiasts across the globe. But what is it about them that captures our imagination?
Part of their appeal lies in their elusive nature. Nicknamed the ‘Ghost of the Mountains,’ snow leopards are famous for being difficult to see in the wild. Part of this is simply because of where they live. Their habitat runs across Central Asia's mountains, including the Himalayas. Many of the areas are beyond regular human reach because of their steep cliffs, deep valleys and extreme weather.
Snow leopards travel these areas leaving little trace, and have patterned, smoky-grey coats that camouflage them among rocky cliffs and snowy ridges. Even scientists and conservationists struggle to catch more than a brief glimpse.
They also impress with their agility. This has evolved because of them living high in the harsh mountain ranges. Their powerful back legs allow them to leap up to 15 metres in a single bound, while their long, muscular tail provides balance. This helps them navigate steep cliffs and chase nimble prey, like ibex.
The state of snow leopards in the wild
It’s estimated that only between 4,000 to 6,500 remain in the wild, spread thinly across 12 countries. Habitat loss driven by growing human activity has reducing the space they need to hunt and roam. They are also at risk from poaching, both for their beautiful fur and in retaliation for preying on livestock.
Climate change is having an impact, too. Changing weather patterns impact the ecosystems of the mountains.
There are many efforts to help protect snow leopards. Conservation groups work with local communities to reduce conflict and encourage people to protect these animals. Anti-poaching patrols are set up to stop illegal hunting. Scientists also use camera traps and GPS collars to study snow leopards and learn more about where they go and how they live.
Even though snow leopards are listed as Vulnerable and not Endangered, they are still at real risk. Their numbers are low, and their habitats are changing, so continued protection is very important to make sure they survive in the future.
Meet our snow leopards
At the Highland Wildlife Park, we are lucky enough to have two snow leopards.
Koshi, our male, is six years old. He’s fathered three cubs, and two of those have gone on to have cubs of their own. This means that he’s a grandad! You may have seen his grandchild Bheri, who was fathered by Koshi’s son Yashin at Chester Zoo.
Pari, our female, has just turned two years old. Born in Stuttgart’s Wilhelma Zoo, she was very shy when she arrived in May but has really started to show her character in recent months. She’s quite vocal and can be heard having a good chat with our keepers.
Both cats love taking part in training sessions with keepers. They have learned to accept injections from vets voluntarily in exchange for rewards. They also love their food and especially enjoy rich meats like rabbit and venison.
Though tough predators by nature, they show a gentler side when taking food offered from tongs. Koshi in particular is very good with our Magic Moments participants.
We are in the process of introducing Koshi and Pari. Their meetings have gone really well, and all signs are looking promising that they will be able to live together permanently. We’ve got our fingers crossed that one day they will successfully breed!
