Within the Bronx Zoo’s Himalayan Highlands habitat, a tiny snow leopard stalks its next victim. She crouches low and scoots forward on her rocky perch, ready to pounce. But before she can spring, her mother — the tiny leopard's target — casually saunters up to the perch and begins bath time.
Sarka, the latest addition to the Bronx Zoo, will have to wait for another opportunity to pounce on her mother. But zoo visitors now have the chance to see her running around and exploring her new habitat.
Snow leopards are a vulnerable species, and their numbers have dwindled in the wild. Sarka’s birth ushers in a conservation win and is one of 80 snow leopard births at the Bronx Zoo.
Snow Leopards in the Wild
Snow leopards are among the most elusive big cat species, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and have been nicknamed the “ghosts of the mountain.” They typically live in high mountain ranges around Central and South Asia, spanning several countries, including China, India, Mongolia, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Russia. In these mountain ranges, they can be found up to about 17,700 feet above sea level, according to the Snow Leopard Trust.
Covered in thick, speckled whitish-gray fur, snow leopards are masters at camouflage, part of what makes them so elusive. They can hide almost in plain sight among the jagged rocks and tufts of grass that cover their environment. Their fur also helps to keep them warm in the chilly temperatures.
Explore All OptionsTheir large paws help snow leopards adapt to their mountain habitat. The padding on their feet acts like snowshoes, so they can easily hop around their snowy environment without slipping or breaking through the snow.
According to the WCS, snow leopards' main food sources in the wild include Siberian ibex, blue sheep, and argali.
What Makes Snow Leopards Vulnerable?
Sarka with her mom.
(Photo Courtesy of Terria Clay, copyright WCS)
According to the WCS, roughly 5,000 to 7,000 snow leopards currently live in the wild, though the Snow Leopard Trust estimates around 3,900 to 6,300 individuals may exist in the wild. Regardless, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists them as vulnerable.
Habitat loss is a main driver of their vulnerability due to commercial development, agriculture, mining, and climate change. Poachers also trap and hunt snow leopards for their fur or to sell them in the illegal pet trade, while some farmers will kill snow leopards in retaliation for killing one of their livestock.
How WCS and the Bronx Zoo Are Helping Snow Leopards
Sarka sleeping
(Image Courtesy of Terria Clay, copyright WCS)
Though these big cats are a vulnerable species, organizations like WCS are working diligently to help keep them abundant and thriving. Since the 1970s, WCS has supported fieldwork and surveying of snow leopards and now helps support populations in Mongolia — the world's second-largest population — and in Afghanistan.
These efforts include anti-poaching and trafficking initiatives, community outreach, protected area development, governance building, and monitoring via satellite collars and ground cameras
The Bronx Zoo also partners with the WCS to help protect snow leopards. In 1903, the Bronx Zoo became the first in the U.S. to exhibit snow leopards and since then has had more than 80 snow leopard births. These births are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Snow Leopard Species Survival Plan, a program that helps with genetic viability in snow leopards, and Sarka is the latest.
Sarka and the Next Generation of Snow Leopards
Sarka cuddling with mom
(Image Courtesy of Terria Clay, copyright WCS)
Sarka means “shark” in Nepali, according to the WCS, and it’s a fitting name for the new cub. She was born on May 31, 2026, to Dariga and Moutig, resident snow leopards at the Bronx Zoo. With the addition of Sarka, the zoo now has eight snow leopards.
Sarka joined her fellow big cats in the Himalayan Highlands habitat at the end of September 2026 after receiving all her vaccinations and passing her physical exams. She still has a long way to go before she’s an expert and blends into her surroundings and becomes a true “ghost of the mountain,” but until then, she’ll keep doing her best to surprise her mother.
Read More: Rare Amur Leopard Born at Cleveland Zoo as Fewer Than 100 Remain in the Wild
Article Sources
Our writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:
- This article references information from The Wildlife Conservation Society: Bronx Zoo Debuts New Snow Leopard Cub, Member of Elusive Species Threatened with Extinction
- This article references information from the Snow Leopard Trust: Habitat
- This article references information from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): Snow Leopard
