The Gobi Desert is one of the drier regions on Earth and access to water is a limiting factor for virtually all plants and animals in this harsh environment. It’s also typically extremely cold in winter, causing the watering holes and natural springs to freeze. However, access to water during these colder months is unlikely to be a concern. We know that ibex eat snow for hydration, and a thirsty snow leopard would probably do the same. The more significant water concern arrives in summer when droughts are common.
We recently observed a female snow leopard visit a watering hole 37 times over two months in the Sevrei Mountains near our study location. That’s just over one visit every other day! While a snow leopard visiting a watering hole is not unusual, the frequency certainly piqued our interest. A snow leopard presumably receives a considerable part of its hydration needs from its prey. Before this female, we had never recorded a snow leopard visiting a watering hole more than 10 times during a 3-month camera trapping period.
This female was a recent mother and trekked every day from the den where her cubs were born to wherever she could hunt or had already made a kill. Luckily for her, her favorite spring was near her den, so her frequent visits were not far off her well-traversed path. It’s not surprising that a lactating female would drink more frequently, but it showcases how closely these cats are tied to water sources at certain times of the year. It appears that the female chose a den site near a water source she was familiar with.
But with so little precipitation in the Gobi Desert, easy access to water is not always a given. The watering holes and natural springs are the usual sources of hydration. Yet, even those sources may not be enough during especially dry summers. We recently highlighted a case of a male snow leopard digging for water, marking the first recorded instance of this behavior. Digging for water has been reported in ungulates and primates but not, to our knowledge, in large cats or other carnivores. We don’t know how common this behavior is among snow leopards in general or if it was learned by this specific individual. While this is not a widely observed phenomenon, it could indicate that snow leopards can adapt to arid, drought-prone conditions.
The link between snow leopards and water doesn’t end with their need for hydration. Despite our cheeky joke about cats with water-related grievances, we don’t know if snow leopards are water-avoidant. We recently saw a video from another organization of a snow leopard mother crossing a river with her cubs, likely a necessity in some parts of their habitat. And even our camera traps have picked up images of soaking-wet cats (admittedly, none of them look very happy!).
Unlike the water-stressed Gobi Desert, the more typical high-mountain snow leopard habitats of Asia are often called the Third Pole because of the immense amount of glaciated fresh water atop their peaks. Almost a third of the world’s population relies on water that is ultimately sourced from High Asia’s glacial peaks. And these mountains are warming at a faster rate than other parts of the northern hemisphere. Unsustainable development will further pressure this delicate ecosystem, and existing and planned dams can harm some species’ access to freshwater sources. As we face the realities of a rapidly changing climate, it’s crucial to understand the complex relationship between wildlife, water and human development to develop effective conservation strategies.
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Photo credits: SLCF-Mongolia, Jake Davis, NCF-India
Acknowledgments: This long-term ecological study is in collaboration with Snow Leopard Conservation Foundation in Mongolia and Snow Leopard Trust with special thanks to the Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism, the Government of Mongolia, and the Mongolian Academy of Sciences for their support.
Acton Family Giving, Bioparc Zoo de Doue la Fontaine, David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park, John Ball Zoo, Kolmårdens Zoo, Korkeasaari Zoo, National Geographic Society, Nordens Ark, Parco Zoo Punta Verde, Play for Nature, Sabin Snow Leopard Fund, Tallinn Zoo, The Big Cat Sanctuary/Wildlife Heritage Foundation, Tulsa Zoo, Zoo Basel, Zoo Dresden, Zoo New England and the many incredible partners who have supported programs like our Long-term Ecological Study and research in Mongolia since it began in 2008. We could not do this work without you.
Not surprised. I take care of some feral cats that live nearby and water is their major cause for searching during the summer. I leave a bowl out summer and winter (heated to keep from freezing) to aid in their survival. Thanks for all you do for these ‘larger kitties”!