Snow leopards are the only big cats that consistently target prey animals that are twice their size or more, according to a new research paper.
Big cat species generally select animals their own size or smaller, which makes the snow leopard’s (Panthera uncia) hunting behaviour highly unusual within the animal kingdom.
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Ibex on the menu
Using GPS tracking and 12 years of data, the study looked at the different age and sex categories of Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica) that snow leopards hunt in the Tost Mountains of Southern Mongolia.
Researchers observed male and female snow leopards are deliberately selecting prime-aged ibex males (more than five years old), despite them being at least twice their body mass, because they’re seen as easier to kill.
Ibex with larger bodies and bigger horns attract more mates, but this breeding advantage also means they’re heavier and less agile, which makes them more likely to be caught and eaten in the snow leopard’s steep mountainous hunting grounds. It’s an example of extreme terrain shaping hunting strategies and unique predator-prey dynamics.
“It turns out that these larger prey might actually be easier for snow leopards to catch because of the unique terrain they inhabit,” explains Dr. Örjan Johansson, senior scientist at Snow Leopard Trust and associate professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
“Ibex have evolved to escape predators by using steep, nearly vertical rock faces. Even the biggest male ibex are incredibly agile climbers and can usually outrun any predator on these slopes, except for snow leopards, who have evolved to hunt in exactly the same terrain.
"Snow leopards typically hunt by ambushing their prey from above and chasing them downhill along steep slopes and cliffs. Since ibex use this same rocky terrain to escape from predators, an individual ibex’s agility and climbing ability becomes the deciding factor in whether it can escape a pursuing snow leopard.
"On flat ground, for prey animals that are large relative to the predator, having a large body and big horns is usually an advantage against predators. But when you’re trying to escape down a steep mountainside, those same traits become a disadvantage. The extra weight and bulk seem to slow the ibex down just enough that they can’t outrun a pursuing snow leopard.”
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Other big cats, such as lions and leopards, are known to prey on larger animals, including elephants and buffalos, but they usually select smaller, easier prey.
Lynx in northern Scandinavia eat reindeer, which can be two to three times their size, but lynx don’t have anything else to choose from of a suitable size, meaning, according to Johansson, they don’t select the reindeer - they just eat what’s there.
Why the study matters
The fact that both snow leopards and trophy hunters are known to target the same ‘prime breeding’ male ibex has implications for conservation efforts in snow leopard regions.
“It’s definitely an eye-opener that makes it clear we need to monitor ibex populations more closely,” says Johansson. “We need detailed surveys that count not just the total number of ibex, but that also track the number of animals in each age and sex category.
"Once we have that data, we can figure out how many prime-aged males will likely be killed by snow leopards and how many the population actually needs to maintain a healthy social structure. If there’s no surplus, there should be no hunting.”
“It also changes how we think about snow leopard conservation,” he adds. “We usually talk about whether an area has enough total prey to support snow leopards. But our research shows that the composition of that prey population matters as well. For example, 1,000 ibex, where only 4% are prime-aged males, might actually support fewer snow leopards than 800 ibex, where 15% are prime-aged males.
"Our study indicates that it might not just be about how many wild ungulates are in an area – it’s also about having the right mix of ages and sexes.”
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