Why Do Snow Leopards Survive in Cold and High Conditions?  为什么雪豹能在高寒条件下生存？

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Why do the mysterious snow leopards survive in the cold mountains？ It turns out that every physical feature of the “King of the Snowy Mountains” helps them with the cold.

Listed as a vulnerable species， there are about 4，500 snow leopards in China， making up more than half the species’ global population.

Their short ears reduce heat loss. A shallow nasal cavity warms the air before it reaches the cat’s lungs. Their jaws can open wider than 70 degrees， making it easier for them to eat larger prey， including bharal and white-lipped deer. Their long， thick tail is roughly the same length as its body. The tail can also act as a blanket or scarf， covering the animal’s mouth and nose when it lies down. Snow leopard fur is 20 times denser than human hair.

China is home to the animal’s key habitat， which comprises about 1.1 million square kilometers. The snow leopard’s natural habitat is in the mountains， at altitudes between 2，000 meters and 5，000 meters. Snow leopards are regarded as barometers of high mountain ecosystems. When the population declines， it likely indicates that the local ecosystem is under pressure or being damaged.

The snow leopard’s core distribution areas still retain their natural state to a high degree， thanks to shelter provided by national parks and nature reserves， according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

Meanwhile， snow leopards continue to face threats to their survival because of problems resulting from human activities persisting on the edges of their distribution areas， leading to declines in prey populations and reducing the number of snow leopards.

神秘的雪豹为何能在寒冷的高山上生存？原来“雪山之王”的每个身体特征都能成为它们的“护身符”。（剩余393字）