Habitat

The snow leopards take up residence in very extreme environments. Living in the snowy mountains of central Asia which span twelve countries: China, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia, it could be said that these beautiful creatures are living on top of the world. Besides the winter months, during which snow leopards descend to around 4800 feet above sea level (1500 m) to follow prey, they inhabit very high altitude of around 16,000 feet above sea level (5000 m). In these typically dry environments vegetation is sparse

 and low to the ground; resulting in shrubland, steppe, or grassland atmospheres. Not only can these mountains be covered in snow but they are also very rocky. The fragmentation of this environment is contributing to the decline of snow leopard populations. Since their habitat is fragmented it causes the populations genes to be isolated which limits the genes available and can result in the formation of a different species.