Snow Leopards are among the most beautiful wild cats, a trait that makes it easy to see why snow leopard heels are so popular as a fashion accessory. Because of modern manufacturing techniques, it’s possible to add the beauty of snow leopard prints to your wardrobe without further endangering these cool cats that are facing extinction.
Endangered Beauties from the Highlands
Snow leopards live in high, cold, rugged mountain regions. They’ve been tracked in only 12 countries, some of them in the Himalayas, the world’s highest mountains. Sadly, snow leopards are endangered because of humans. Humans living in the world’s high, cold places have harvested the wild cats for their fur for clothing, and for their bones to use in naturopathic medicines. These days, humans have encroached on the leopards’ habitat and have also killed off their food sources. Without natural food sources, snow leopards have turned to preying on domestic livestock, which in turn leads herdsmen to trap or shoot the leopards, further depleting their numbers.
Snow Leopard Heels Can Call Attention to Their Plight
It isn’t often that a fashion accessory can also serve a social cause, but snow leopard heels can be a way to talk about the problems facing this endangered species. For example, the beauty of a snow leopard print can lead to discussions about how the cats’ tails are almost as long as their bodies. Their long tails help the leopards keep their balance while racing up and down rocky hillsides pursuing mountain goats and wild sheep. The leopards also wrap themselves in their tails to keep warm when they sleep.\
The dark-gray to black round markings in a snow leopard print resemble the rosettes on the animal’s coat. Their markings serve to distinguish individuals among the cats. Snow leopards also have wide paws that help to distribute their weight better on snow. All in all, the animal is well suited to its cold, mountainous environment.
One of several brands of snow leopard heels available on Amazon.com, Imports heightens the social consciousness of its style with its Ladies Heels Fashion Vegetarian Dress Pointy Shoes. This model features a snow leopard print on synthetic micro suede (no animal hides used in the construction) with a 3-1/2-inch heel for less than $25.
Spicy’s C 818 model pumps mimic the lovely coat of the big cat by putting its snow leopard print on white, gray or tan background. The model with 4-inch heel sells for around $25.
In both cases, the shoes are an opportunity to show how shoemakers no longer need to hunt down an endangered species in order to benefit from its beauty. A pair of snow leopard heels in a wardrobe can give the wearer a beautiful outfit and the opportunity to do good deed for a wild species at the same time.