The snow leopard is an elusive and majestic big cat native to the steep, rocky mountains of Central Asia. Their thick, insulated fur comes in shades of gray or creamy yellow, adorned with gray-black spots that help them blend into their snowy and rocky surroundings. Snow leopards are built for their harsh environment: their wide feet act as natural snowshoes, helping them navigate the deep snow with ease.

One of their most impressive features is their powerful legs, which enable them to leap as far as 50 feet—up to six times the length of their body! Snow leopards are also formidable hunters, capable of taking down prey that can weigh up to three times their own weight, such as sheep, ibex, marmots, pikas, hares, and even livestock in the wild.

Their long tails serve multiple purposes: they provide excellent balance while navigating the rocky terrain and act as a blanket to protect vital areas of their bodies from the cold mountain air. Despite being capable hunters, snow leopards are known to be shy and solitary animals. Unlike most big cats, they lack the ability to roar, instead communicating through a variety of other vocalizations.

Meet Our Snow Leopards: Coconut & Zara
At the zoo, we are fortunate to care for two snow leopards: Coconut, a male, and Zara, a female. These magnificent cats enjoy a variety of enrichment activities and a diet that includes special carnivore meat and cat chow, mimicking what they would eat in the wild.

Though they can’t roam the rugged mountains of Central Asia, our snow leopards are given the opportunity to lounge and relax in a specially designed hammock made out of fire hose, a favorite spot for both Coconut and Zara. Their habitat is thoughtfully designed to reflect their natural environment, providing plenty of climbing opportunities, hiding spots, and comfortable resting areas.

If you're interested in seeing these majestic big cats up close, be sure to visit Coconut and Zara at the zoo. They are a beautiful reminder of the wild mountains they call home and an important part of our conservation efforts to protect snow leopards in the wild.