35 Adorable Snow Leopard Photos To Celebrate The Fact That They’re No Longer ‘Endangered’

The beautiful and exotic snow leopard has been listed as endangered species since 1972, but a glimmer of hope is now peaking through for these embattled mountain cats. After a 3-year assessment of population decline rates, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has upgraded the status of the snow leopard to 'vulnerable.'

"The wild cat species still faces a high risk of extinction in the wild and is likely still declining," conservationist Tom McCarthy stated. "Just not at the rate previously thought." These big cats are heavily hunted for their thick skin and bones, leading to a rapidly decreasing adult population in the wild. While the world should still be extremely worried about the status of these rare animals, we can at least celebrate their new condition as a small victory in the fight for their survival.

Snow leopards are native to Central Asia and are therefore considered important symbols of native culture in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and parts of Russia. Scroll down to celebrate these beautiful cats in all of their glory, and vote for the photos that make you wish you could adopt one.

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Snow Leopard

Final score:

167points

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Vlad Horobet 7 years ago

This is the reason they are endangered... Leopard in the back is like : "god damn it moon moon, not again..."

49points

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This Snow Leopard Cub Would Like A Belly Rub Please

Final score:

158points

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Henrique Kenzo 7 years ago

They're no longer endangered? Great! Now let's keep it that way, please. o_o

3points

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Snow Leopard

Final score:

155points

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Vlad Horobet 7 years ago

I'm a hunter. I caught the fluffy danger noodle that was following me.

82points

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Got It!

Final score:

148points

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Iapetos 7 years ago

Parenting...

22points

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Unlike Many Other Big Cats, Snow Leopards Are Not Aggressive Towards Humans. There Has Never Been A Verified Snow Leopard Attack On A Human Being

Final score:

129points

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Vlad Horobet 7 years ago

How i sleep during the weekends knowing that is no alarm clock to wake me up to go to work.

20points

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Snow Leopard

Final score:

127points

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Vlad Horobet 7 years ago

This guy makes a pretty good mime.

17points

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Snow Leopards

Final score:

126points

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Flinkie 7 years ago

Kitten Luv

8points

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Shit Happens

Final score:

117points

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ugaas wiilhoog 7 years ago

Reminds me of kung fu panda, the villain Tai Lung.

29points

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Snow Leopard Cubs

Final score:

111points

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Vlad Horobet 7 years ago

snow leopard avalanche... It's raining leopards and leopards...

22points

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#10

Snow Leopard Cub

Final score:

96points

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Flinkie 7 years ago

Peek-a-bo! <3

12points

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#11

Young Snow Leopard

Final score:

75points

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Vlad Horobet 7 years ago

He looks so much like a tiger.

7points

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#12

Still Waiting For Snow

Final score:

69points

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Nancy E 7 years ago

Beautiful backdrop to highlight beautiful animal !

10points

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#13

Snow Leopard

Final score:

63points

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BoredBirgit 7 years ago

Majesthetic.

11points

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#14

Playful Snow Leopard

Final score:

61points

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CatShatBrix 7 years ago

Brother?

4points

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#15

Snow Leopard

Final score:

61points

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Nancy E 7 years ago

Look at the symmetry in that great tail !

14points

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#16

Snow Leopards

Final score:

60points

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CatShatBrix 7 years ago

Once again, the wise eyes of the mother leopard stares solemnly into the wilderness...

7points

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#17

Snow Leopard Love

Final score:

57points

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Nancy E 7 years ago

A little snuggle to make the day !

8points

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#18

Snow Leopard In Snow Storm

Final score:

50points

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Martha V McLeod 7 years ago

I don't like winter either...

11points

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#19

Snow Leopard

Final score:

50points

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Nancy E 7 years ago

Such a sweet picture !

10points

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#20

Snow Leopards

Final score:

48points

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CatShatBrix 7 years ago

'This doesnt concern you, Paul!'

10points

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#21

Laila

Final score:

46points

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Nancy E 7 years ago

Hear me roar !

7points

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#22

Snow Leopard

Final score:

46points

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Gwen Abbott Asmussen 7 years ago

Me when I'm told there's no more coffee!

10points

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#23

Asaki

Final score:

44points

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Vlad Horobet 7 years ago

Bro, bite this lemon me :

7points

Devina Whitehouse 3 years ago

What pretty animals they are

0points

Carol Williams 7 years ago

"Saw a human fall off the cliff...laughed so hard I wet myself!"

0points

Missy Finley 7 years ago

No more drinks, no more bedtime stories, no more potty, GO TO SLEEP!!! --every parent ever

0points

Nicole Bargert 7 years ago

I said no pictures!!

0points

rai mei 7 years ago

singing 'Another one bites the dust'

0points

Copper Vyxen 7 years ago

"... and then... and the he said, that wasn't my car!" joked the snow leopard.

0points

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#24

Young Snow Leopard

Final score:

44points

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Kizzy Kizzy 7 years ago

MOM MOM MOM LOOK MOM MOMLOOKATME

22points

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#25

Snow Leopard

Final score:

44points

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Aaaa Bbbb 7 years ago

My husband's face when someone says something unscientific.

14points

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#26

Snow Leopard Cub

Final score:

43points

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CatShatBrix 7 years ago

'And... Boo!'

5points

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#27

My Bed

Final score:

43points

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Laurinde Fleur 7 years ago

Me on Mondays

7points

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#28

O Sole Mio

Final score:

38points

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Sue Long 7 years ago

Hittin' the snooze button!

5points

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#29

Snow Leopard

Final score:

38points

POST

Kizzy Kizzy 7 years ago

Die snow lol

7points

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#30

Snow Love

Final score:

38points

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CatShatBrix 7 years ago

Belly rub!!

5points

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#31

Snow Leopards

Final score:

38points

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CatShatBrix 7 years ago

The mama leopard watches you with her wise, experienced eyes...

6points

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#32

Snow Leopard

Final score:

34points

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Cat on a bike 7 years ago

So small and yet trying to be so fierce :)

5points

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#33

Early Learning

Final score:

33points

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Đoan Võ 7 years ago

He look sad

5points

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#34

Young Snow Leopard In Fern

Final score:

32points

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Copper Vyxen 7 years ago

"MOM! Billy is chewing on my tail!!!"

8points

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#35

Mama And Son

Final score:

24points

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Crazy Cow Lady 7 years ago

This photo looks fake

7points

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What do you think ?

Let's hope the men and women keeping these magnificent creatures away from harm continue their good work up they still have some way to go.

16points

Ed Mo 7 years ago

I don't understand why they're being removed from the endangered species list if their population is still in decline. A slower rate of decline is encouraging but this only stalls the inevitable unless greater conservation is enacted.

Marion Friedl 7 years ago

Yep they´re still poached for their fur, plz read my comment above!!! :(

1point

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So pawsome, but snow leopard # 3 must be in some zoo, there´s a fence in front of him, the others´re in their natural habitat, but in my opinion they´ve been removed from the endangered animals list too soon, poachers still kill them for their fur, in China some people pay thousands of $$ for one, to make a coat out of them, to lay them on the floor as "carpets" or to hang them on the wall, I think it needs a lot more efforts to protect them for real!!! 💖💖💖

Emily Softley 7 years ago

I agree with you totally on the need to protect this gorgeous species, but I believe the 'endangered' category is down to the number remaining in the world, rather than those actually in danger from hunting, poaching etc.

2points

Lady on the Grey 7 years ago

Lovely news!

Leiah 7 years ago

No it's not lovely news. This just means less protection for the species! Probably lobbied by some people higher up who indirectly profit from the fur trade!!!

Meeow 7 years ago

Such a beautiful cat!

Cassie 7 years ago

I just wanna snuggle the foofs! Why must they be so cute? They're wild, they're wild, they're wild. But they're so freaking adorable!!

Magpie 7 years ago

All beautiful. And dangerous ! I hope they survive!

Bobby Clemente 7 years ago

Such pretty kittehs!

Eulalie Grace 7 years ago

This "upgrading" of snow leopards from endangered to threatened has me very uneasy. In the past few years, too many species have been upgraded, like the Florida panther, manatees, and the Giant Panda. If these animals were making a comeback - KEEP THEM LISTED. Don't un-do all the hard work of recovery. These pictures were all taken in zoos as finding a snow leopard in the wild is quite a rare thing. Upgrading any animal is a mistake. I wonder who's behind their re-listing.

AnnieLaurie Burke 7 years ago

Readers should know that not all conservation organizations find the science sufficiently robust to support re-listing.

Sherrie Glendening 7 years ago

Why do humans want to destroy beautiful animals for their fur? A fur coat will never be as beautiful as when it's on the animal that is born with it.

tweetybird 7 years ago

THEY'RE SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Laetitia 7 years ago

I am so so glad that they are no longer endangered! They are beautiful creatures :D

madcow 3417 7 years ago

This just in: The Trump administration has celebrated this achievement by issuing hunting licenses for snow leopards. I know they're not in the US, but I can't think of an Asian government despicable enough for this joke.

Alayna DeMarco 7 years ago

With a hunting license, the number of snow leopards hunted is tightly controlled to prevent them from going extinct. In addition, most of the money spent on a license is going to conservation projects.

Candy Lafler 7 years ago

1 - 36

-2points

Katrė 7 years ago

If naming an animal as "endangered" makes them avoid the danger – I would call every animal endangered and enjoy the peace.

35 Adorable Snow Leopard Photos To Celebrate The Fact That They’re No Longer ‘Endangered’

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