The conservation charity World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has warned that climate change is threatening the existence of the snow leopard in the Himalayas. Its Snow Leopard Programme says rising temperatures are shrinking the natural habitat of the big cat to the point that snow leopards could become extinct. In a new report, the charity says that up to a third of the mountainous areas where the leopards live could become uninhabitable. Much of the flora and fauna the animals need to survive could disappear in warmer temperatures. The WWF said: "The Himalayas region will face a major crisis if we choose to ignore climate change…We risk losing majestic species such as the snow leopard.