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The ancestors of snow leopards took advantage of what is called an "open niche".
The mountainous regions of Central Asia 1,200 - 6000 meters (3,900 to 20,000 feet) above sea level were not inhabited by other large predators, although wild sheep, goats, and deer were available for prey. At lower elevations, the ancestors of leopards and tigers, and those species once they evolved, were better hunters and territory holders. It was safer for the early snow leopards to live in the mountains. Gradually, those animals with better adaptations to the cold (small ears, short faces, furry feet, thick fur, etc.), and to the unstable rocky terrain (for example, very long tails that can be used for balance), were the ones that had more cubs that survived and had cubs of their own. Those cubs could move further up the mountains, too, and could take advantage of the higher elevation prey. Over thousands of years, the snow leopards became so specialized that they can no longer survive in warmer regions.
Elyse Daniel
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∙ 12y agoWiki User
∙ 13y agoIts warm
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Does snow leopards live in the wild?
Yes they do.
What does it look like where snow leopards live?
It is very cold, and the air is thin where wild snow leopards live in the Himalayas.
What age does snow leopards go up to?
Snow Leopards can live up to 15 years in the wild
Do snow leopards live longer in the wild or captivity?
they live longer both ways
Does the snow leopard live in the zoo or the wild?
Snow leopards live in the wild and in the zoo, just as any other species would. There are 600 - 700 snow leopards in zoos right now, and only about 4,000 - 6,000 in the wild. These animals were placed on the Red List on Endangered Animals in 1972.
Do snow leopards live in prides?
Yes, snow leopards live in dens.
In which countries do snow leopards live in the wild?
snow leopards live in the mountain regions of central Asia. they are most commonly found in the Chinese region of Tibet though there range can span right across the Himalayas
Do snow leopards live any where near wolves?
Snow leopards do not live near wolves but other leopards might.
Do snow leopards live in rain forests?
No! They're snow leopards, they live in cold places.
How long do snow leopards get?
If I understand your question correctly, you want to know how old snow leopards get? In captivity a snow leopard is known to live to 21 years old. But, in the wild it would be harder to live, so the life span could vary.
Can snow leopards live without snow?
Snow Leopards can live without snow but they are more specialised to hunting in snow so it would make a difference.
How many snow leopards did there used to be before they became endangered?
Now, there are an estimated 4000-7500 snow leopards left in the wild.
