Where do snow leopards live?

Snow leopards are found across 12 countries, including China, Mongolia, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan. China is thought to hold the largest share of their habitat. They usually live between about 3,000 and 4,500 metres above sea level, though sometimes higher. Their thick fur, wide paws and long tail, which they wrap around themselves for warmth, are adaptations to extreme cold. Estimates suggest roughly 4,000 to 6,500 remain in the wild, and they are so elusive they are known as the 'ghost of the mountains'.