On my journey to the harsh mountain region of central Asia and the Himalayas, I discovered this beautiful animal called a snow leopard. These animals are really hard to spot in the wild, so I hovered at a safe distance not wanting to scare it.

Snow leopards have a small round head, broad paws and an incredibly long tail. Their tail – which is almost as long as the rest of their body – helps to keep them balanced as they move around their steep mountain home. They also use their tail to keep them warm by wrapping it around their bodies while they are resting.

The snow leopard's fur coat also helps to keep it warm and has the added advantage of allowing it to blend in with its surroundings too. Its white winter coat is great camouflage against the snow, and its spotted yellow-grey summer coat makes it almost impossible to spot against its rocky surroundings. Can you spot the snow leopard on these rocks?

Looking closely at the snow leopard's paws I've noticed that the cushions of hair provide padding from the snow and rocks. With their long hind legs and shorter front legs, snow leopards are amazing jumpers, able to leap up to 15 metres through the air, or, without difficulty, straight up into a tree or onto a cliff.

A snow leopard's diet varies by season, but consists mostly of wild sheep and goats, and some smaller animals. Amazingly, snow leopards are capable of killing animals up to three times their own weight, and usually kill a large animal about twice a month. Snow leopards are slow eaters and remain with their kill for several days, protecting it from scavengers.

Snow leopards usually give birth to two to three cubs (although it can be up to seven) in late spring or early summer. Like newborn kittens, they open their eyes only after a week or more, but by the time they are two months old, they are very active. After 18-22 months, the cubs leave their mother to hunt for themselves.

I have discovered that despite snow leopards living in some very isolated areas, they are still endangered. Some people hunt snow leopards for their fur and body parts as a way of making money, which has a direct impact on their small population. Plus the animals that the snow leopards rely on for food are also hunted.

WWF is researching and protecting snow leopard habitats while working to stop the illegal trade in endangered cat skins and other endangered species. In Mongolia, WWF has created an anti-poaching team and also works with local people to help reduce the pressure on the snow leopard's home.